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HISTORY 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN 



FIRST EXPLORATION BY THE FRENCH 



IN 1609, 



CLOSE OF THE YEAR 1814. 



^>\: 



PETER S; PALMER 




ALBANY, N. Y. : 
J. MUNSELL, 78 STATE STREET. 
18 6 6. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, 

By Peter S. Palmer, 

In the Clerk's OflBce of the District Court of the United States, 

for the Northern District of New York. 



Fi 






'^' 







TO 

THEODORUS BAILEY MYERS, ESQ., 

LIBRAEIAN OF THE 

AM. GEOGRAPHICAL AKD STATISTICAL SOCIETY, ETC., ETC., 

AN 

Untiring Collector of American Historical Antiquities, 

WHO HAS 

Stmpathized ■warmly in the Compilation of this Sketch, 

Designed to aid in perpetuating the History of a 

Region in which our Forefathers 

WEBB Settlers, 

IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, 

BY 

HIS FRIEND AND KINSMAN, 

PETER SAILLY PALMER. 



i^ 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 



INTRODUCTION. 



General Description of the Lake and of the most important Points along its 
Borders — Ancient and modern Names of Places — Distances — Old Forts 
— Scenery — Original Indian Name. 

Lake Champlain extends from 43° 30' to 45° north 
latitude, and lies between Vermont and New York — the 
boundary line of those states running through its centre. 
The lake is ninety miles long, in a right line from north to 
south, with a length of coast, on either side, of about one 
hundred and twenty-five miles : its southern extremity, or 
head, being at Whitehall, and its northern near the bounda- 
ry line between the United States and Canada. The lake 
varies in width from one-fourth of a mile to thirteen miles, 
and covers an area of about five hundred square miles. It 
receives the waters of Lake George, at Ticonderoga, and 
discharges itself into the St. Lawrence, through the river 
Richelieu. There is no perceivable current in the body of 
the lake, and its waters, at ordinary stages, pass into the 
Richelieu with a velocity of only one-third of a mile per 
hour. 

The lake has two arms; one on the west side, near its 
southern extremity, called South Bay, the other on the east 
side, near its northern extremity, called Missisco Bay. This 
last mentioned bay stretches into Canada and covers about 
thirty-five square miles. The area of country drained into 
the lake is variously estimated from seven thousand to nine 
1 



2 LAKE CEAirPLAIX. 

thousand square miles. It probably approaches nearest to 
the larger estimate. Numerous rivers and creeks discharge 
themselves into the lake, among the principal of which are, 
on the New York side. Wood Creek, ^ the outlet of Lake 
George, the Bouquet, Great and Little Ausable, the Salmon, 
the Saranac. and the Big and Little Chazy rivers. On the 
Vermont side are the Poultnej River, Otter Creek, and the 
Winooski. Lamoille and Missisco rivers. The lake is sub- 
ject to a rise and fall of from six to eight feet during the 
year ; the waters attaining their greatest height about the 
twentieth of May, after which they fall gradually, until 
about the twentieth of September, when they usually reach 
the lower level of the remainder of the season. 

Lake Champlain commences at the junction of Wood 
Creek with East Bay. in the town of Whitehall. The In- 
dian name of this place was Kah-cho-quah-na, the place 
where dip fish. Philip Skene, an English major under 
half pay. located there in 1763, and established a settlement 
at the mouth of Wood Creek, which was called Skenesbo- 
rough. This, for many years, was the most important settle- 
ment upon Lake Champlain. In 1773 it numbered seventy- 
three families, all of whom, with but two exceptions, were 
Skene's tenants. The name of the town was changed to 
Whitehall in 1788. 

About two miles north of the village of Whitehall is 
South Bay, an arm of the lake seven miles long and one mile 
wide, extending to the south-west and separating the town of 
Whitehall from the town of Dresden. It was on the shores 
of this bay that the Baron de Dieskau landed, in 1775, with 
an army of fifteen hundred French and Indians, when 
marching against the English encampment at the head of 
Lake Geor«;e. 



^Called by tbe Dutch Hout Kil, and by the French Riviere Chicot. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 3 

Twenty-four miles below Whitehall is old Fort Ticonde- 
roga oa the west, Mount Independence on the east side of 
the lake. Here the waters of Lake George discharge them- 
selves into Lake Champlain through an outlet called, by the 
Indians, Cheonderoga. The French erected a fortress here in 
1756, which they called Fort Carillon, and which was a place 
of sreat strenath. Mount Defiance lies on the south side of 
the mouth of the outlet of Lake George, opposite Ticonde- 
roga. The summit of this mountain is seven hundred and 
fifty feet above the lake, and within cannon shot of the old 
fortress. 

TVelve miles north of Ticonderoga is Crown Point, called 
by the French Pointe a la Chevelure. Here the French 
built a fort in 1731, which they called Fort St. Frederic. 
The fort was destroyed by them on their retreat to Canada 
in 1759, and the same year General Amherst commenced a 
much larger work, the ruins of which are still to be seen. 

Opposite Crown Point is a landing place called Chimney 
Point, which was settled by the French about the time they 
commenced building Fort St. Frederic, and was destroyed by 
them in 1759. So complete was the destruction of the set- 
tlement that when the English arrived, a few days after 
the retreat of the French, they saw nothing but the black- 
ened chimneys of the consumed houses, standing as grim 
sentinels amid the surrounding ruin. These chimneys were 
permitted to stand for years, and gave to that locality the 
name of Chimney Point; a name it yet retains. 

For more than fifty years, the waters between Crown Point 
and Whitehall have been included within the limits of Lake 
Champlain, but in the older histories and maps of the coun- 
try the passage between these places is frequently called 
Wood Creek and South Bay. Kalm' speaks of that part 



1 Kalm's Travels, 1749. 



4 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

of the lake south of Crown Point as " the river which 
comes out of the Lake St. Sacrement to Lake Champlain," 
and again as "Wood Creek which flows to Fort St. Fred- 
eric." Doctor Thacher, who was stationed at Ticonderoca 
in 1777, refers to South Bay as extending from that place 
to Skenesborough, " a distance of thirty miles." These 
changes in the name applied at diflFerent periods to the nar- 
row part of the lake should be carefully noted. I have refer- 
red to them at this time to guard the reader against the 
confusion which they have frequently produced, and to ex- 
plain an occasional apparent discrepancy between this work 
and the narratives here collected. « 

Two miles north of Crown Point, and on the same side 
of the lake, is Port Henry, and about eleven miles further 
north is Northwest Bay, called Bate du Roclier Fenclus 
in Sauthier's map of 1779. The village of Westport stands 
at the foot of this bay. On the opposite side of the lake, 
about ten miles north of Crown Point, is a small bay in which 
Arnold grounded and burned his galley and five gondolas, 
after the engagement with the English of the 13th October, 
1776. Otter Creek, called by the French La Riviere mix 
Loutrcs, empties into the lake about seven miles north of 
this spot. The creek is navigable for lake vessels as far up 
as the falls at Vergennes, a distance of eight miles. In 
this creek, Macdonough fitted out the fleet with which he 
gained the victory of the 11th of September, 1814. In the 
course of the last war, a small breast-work was thrown up on 
the north side of the creek at its mouth, where Lieutenant Cas- 
sin of the navy, and Captain Thornton of the artillery, with 
two hundred men, repulsed a large British force, sent out 
from Canada to destroy the American fleet fitting out at 
Vergennes. A few miles north, and on the opposite side of 
the lake, is Split Rock, called by the French Rocher Fendu. 
This rock has always been considered a great natural 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 5 

curiosity. It projects one hundred and fifty feet into the 
lake, and is elevated about thirty feet above the level of the 
water. The part detached contains half an acre, and is se- 
parated from the main rock by a channel about fifteen feet 
wide. The prominences and cavities of the opposing sides 
are said to correspond ; and hence the popular opinion that 
this rock was separated from the main land by an earth- 
quake,^ but Professor Emmons, who examined it particu- 
larly, supposes the separation to have been occasioned by 
the wearing away or decomposition of an intermediate mass 
of rock containing a large quantity of pyritous iron. 

The lake between Split Rock and Thompson's Point, for- 
merely called Pointe Regiochnc, is not quite one mile wide. A 
light-house has been erected upon the main land, a few rods 
south of the rock. From this point the lake increases in 
width as it extends towards the north. Between Essex and 
Charlotte, four miles north, it is three miles wide. Opposite 
Burlington it is nine and three-quarters miles, and from shore 
to shore, opposite Plattsburgh, about thirteen miles wide. 

Between Essex and Charlotte is Sloop Island, so called be- 
cause an English vessel of war, during the revolution, fired 
upon it, mistaking in a fog the stump of a pine tree stand- 
ing near its centre for the mast of a sloop. A short dis- 



^In the winter of 1663 there was a severe earthquake in Canada. 
" Lakes appeared where none ever existed before ; mountains 
were overthrown ; rivers sought other beds or totally disappeared. 
The earth and the mountains entirely split and rent in innumer- 
able places, creating chasms and precipices, whose depths have 
never been ascertained." — Jesuits' Relation, 1663. 

"On the fifth of February we had an earthquake which continued 
during half a quarter of an hour, sufiiciently strong to extort from 
us a good act of contrition. It was repeated from time to time 
during nine days and was perceptible until the last of the month, 
but always diminishing." — Baron d' Avaugour to the French Minister, 
4th August, 1663. 



6 



LAKE CIIAMPLAIN. 



tauce below Essex, on the New York side, is tlie mouth of 
the Bouquet River. At the falls, two miles up this river, 
Burgoyue encamped and gave a war feast to a party of about 
four hundred Indians, previous to his attack on Ticonderoga 
in 1777. Fourteen miles north-east from Essex and on 
the opposite side of the lake, is the village of Burlington. 
About midway between these two places are four small is- 
lands called the Four Brothers. They are called Ide de 
Quatre-vcHts on Charlevoix's map of 1744, and the Four 
Winds Islands on Sauthier's map. Two and one half miles 
south of Burlington is Potier's Point, called Ei-Mij\ by 
Sauthier. It forms the west side of the mouth of Shelburne 
Bay. Three miles south-west of Burlington is Juniper 
Island, on which stands a light-house erected in 1826. 

North-west from Juniper Island, and near the west shore 
of the lake is Schuyler Island^ called by the French Ide 
aux Chapons. Under this island Arnold collected his fleet 
on the morning of the 12th of October, after his retreat from 
Valcour Island. A little to the south of this island is Doug- 
lass Bay, called Corlear by the French and Indians. It is 
supposed that the humane and noble Corlear was drowned 
in this bay in 1666. 

A mile to the north of Schuyler Island is a bold promon- 
tory called Pointe Trembleau. At the foot of a small bay 
formed by this point, stands the village of Port Kent, and 
about two miles to the north aYe the mouths of the Great 
and Little au Sable rivers, which empty into the lake near a 
sandy point, called Pointe au Sable. Six miles further 
north, and half a mile from the main shore lies the island 
of Valcour, or Valeur as it is sometimes called. This island 
is celebrated on account of a severe naval engagement fought 
near it between the Americans and English on the 11th 
day of October, 1776. One mile north of Valcour is St. 
Michel's, or Crab Island, and about three miles further north 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 7 

is the moutli of the Saranac river, called Salasanac on 
Sauthier's map. The village of Plattsburgh lies on both 
sides of this river at its mouth. Three miles east from 
Plattsburgh is Cumberland Head, on which a light-house 
has been erected. Cumberland Head was called by the 
French Caj} Scounonton or Scononton. It extends about 
three miles into the lake in a southerly direction, and forms 
Cumberland Bay. This bay was the scene of Macdonough's 
naval victory of the 11th of September, 1814. To the east 
of Cumberland Head is a large island called Grand Isle. 
The Lamoille River empties into the lake on the Vermont 
side near the south end of this island. Eight miles south 
of the Lamoille is the mouth of the Winooski. North of 
Grand Isle, and separated from it by a narrow channel, 
is another large island called North Hero. This is the Isle 
Longue of the French. 

Twelve miles north of Cumberland Head, and lying be- 
tween North Hero and the western side of the lake is Isle 
la Motte. This island was named from Sieur la Mothe, a 
French officer who built a fort on the north end of the island 
in 1665, which he called Fort St. Anne. It was after- 
wards called Fort la Mothe. Kalm says this was a wooden 
fort or redoubt, standing on the west side of the island near 
the water's edge. It had disappeared when he passed through 
the lake in 1749, but he was shown the spot where it stood, 
which he describes as " quite overgrown with trees." Oppo- 
site the north end of this island, on the New York side, is 
the mouth of the Little Chazy River, and a short distance 
further north is the mouth of the Big Chazy. These rivers 
are called Chasy on a map of a survey of the lake made in 
1732, and were originally named from Lieut, de Chasy, a 
French officer of distinction who, in 1665, was killed by a 
party of Mohawk Indians, while hunting in their vicinity. 
King's Bay lies north of the mouth of the Big Chazy. The 



8 



LAKE CHAMPLAm. 



north side of this bay is formed by Point Kn Fer, which 
separates it from Rouse's Point Bay. 

Point Au Fer was formerly separated from the main shore 
by a ichannel or deep morass connecting Rouse's Point Bay 
with King's Bay. Kalm says the first houses he saw, after 
leaving Fort St. Frederic, were on the western side of the lake 
about ten French miles above St. Johns, in which the French 
had lived before the last war, but which were then (1748) 
abandoned. These houses probably stood either on Point 
Au Fer or near the mouth of the Big Chazy River. Prior 
to the revolution a brick house was built on this point, which 
was known as the ^Vhite Souse. It was fortified with an 
intrenchment and cannon by General Sullivan, at the time 
of the invasion of Canada, and was then considered a very 
advantageous position to command the navigation of the north 
end of the lake. Burgoyne, when he entered the United 
States, threw a body of troops into this place, and it was 
retained by the British as a military post until after the 
peace. 1 

Opposite the northern part of Isle La Motte, on the Ver- 
mont side of the lake, is Alburgh Tongue, called by the 
French Pointe Algonquin. The entrance to Missisco Bay is 
on the east side of this point. About eight miles north of 
Isle La Motte, also on the Vermont side, is Windmill Point. 
The French built a windmill there about the time of the 
erection of Fort St. Frederic at Crown Point, and had col- 
lected a small settlement near the mill; but the English 
having burnt the houses several times, on their incursions 
into Canada, the settlement was at length abandoned. In 1749 
nothing but the mill, which was built of stone, remained. i 

Opposite Windmill Point is the village of Rouse's Point, 
and one mile north is the terminus of the Ogdensburgh 



^Kalm's Travels. 



LAKE CHAMPLAm. 9 

(Northern) Rail Road. A connection is there formed between 
the Ogdensburgh and the Vermont and Canada Rail Roads by 
a bridge and floating draw. The boundary line between the 
United States and Canada, as fixed by the Ashburton Treaty 
of 1842, is about one mile below this bridge. This line is 
located 4,200 feet north of the true parallel of the 45° of 
latitude, and was so established in order to secure to the 
United States the site of an old fort commenced by that gov- 
ernment soon after the close of the war of 1812. 

The parallel of 45° was originally located correctly by 
the French, but in 1766 Governor Moore and Brigadier Gen- 
eral Carleton visited Lake Champlain and fixed the bound- 
ary between Canada and the province of New York about 
two and a half miles below Windmill Point, which Governor 
Moore says was further to the northward than they expected 
to find it from the observations said to have been made by 
the French some years before. ^ Moore's line was recognized 
as the true one until about the year 1818 when, on taking 
new observations, it was found to be too far to the north. 
As soon as the error was discovered, the United States 
suspended work on the fort, and the imfinished walls were 
long known as Fort Blunder. Since the treaty of 1842 
a new and larger fort has been commenced on the site of the 
old one, called Fort Montgomery. It is not yet completed. 

Fort Montgomery stands at the foot of the lake. There 
the river Richelieu commences and conveys the waters of 
the lake to the St. Lawrence. This river, for several years 
after the first settlement of Canada, was called the River of 
the Iroquois. Charlevoix says it was afterwards called the 
Richelieu on account of a fort of that name which had been 
built at its mouth in 1641. This outlet of Lake Champlain 
is also called the Sorel or Chambly River. 



^ Gov. IMooi'e to the Board of Plantations, 17G6. 



IQ LAK]^ CHA.VPLJLLS'. 

Three and a half mile? below the boundary line is Bloody 
Island, said to be so called from the murder of two lumber- 
men who were killed there by a party of soldiers sent to 
protect them from the Indians. Three-fourths of a mile 
below is Ash Island or I^le au.v Tetcs. One mile below Ash 
Island is Hospital Island, and six miles still lower down the 
river is Isle aux Sbir, where the French established a mili- 
tary post on their retreat from Crown Point in 1<'..'>9. Thir- 
teen miles below Isle aux Noix is the village of St. Johns. 
That place was selected for a military post by Montcalm in 
175S. It was occupied by the French prior to 1749. 

About thirteen miles below St. Johns is the village and 
fort of Chambly. A fort was built there by the French in 
16G4. which they called Fort St. Louis. It was at first built 
of wood, but had, prior to 1721, been replaced by a strong 
work of stone, flanked with four bastions, and capable of 
containing a large garrison. Fort Richelieu, at the mouth 
of the river, was afterwards demolished, add a new fort built 
there by 31ons. de Sorel. to which his name was given. 

Lake Champlain lies on the western side of a valley formed 
by the Adirondacks of Xew York and the Green Mountains 
of Yermont. This valley is from one to thirty miles in width, 
and about one hundred and eighty miles in length north and 
south. Its greatest depression has been found to be between 
Westport. Burlington and Port Kent. Between Burlington 
and Port Kent the water of the lake is two hundred and 
eighty-two feet in depth. Professor Emmons found the 
depth, four miles north of "\Yestport, to be three hundred 
feet, and he was told that soundings of six hundred feet had 
been made in other places in that part of the lake. The 
surface of the lake is ninety-three feet above tide, and if 
Professor Emmons was not misinformed, its bottom at this 
last point is at least five hundred feet below the level of the 
ocean. It is the popular opinion that the waters of the lake 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. W 

are gradually subsidiug, but I judge this to be a mistake for 
the reason that the soundiugs made seventy-five years ago do 
not differ materially from those of the present day. The 
water in the bays and along the shores is not so deep as it 
was formerly, on account of the washing of the banks and 
the deposit of earth, saw-dust and rubbish brought down by 
the creeks and rivers, but the surface is probably as high 
above tide as it was when the lake was first visited by Cham- 
plain in 1609. It is evident, however, from an examination 
of the adjacent shores and rocks, that the lake at one time 
filled a much larger portion of the valley than it does at pre- 
sent. Geologists suppose this entire valley to have been twice 
occupied by the ocean — but these speculations are of little 
interest to the general reader, who, usually, is satisfied to 
take things as they have existed for the last five thousand 
years. 

This lake has ever been celebrated for the beauty of its 
scenery and the bold and imposing configuration of the sur- 
rounding country. Upon the eastern side the valley is wide 
and fertile until we pass Mount Independence going south, 
when the hills approach the lake, and in some places rise 
abruptly from its shores. On the New York side the moun- 
tains in many places extend to the water's edge, as in the 
case of the Black Mountains south of Ticonderoga ; the 
Kayaderosseras range which terminates with Bulwagga 
Mountain near Crown Point ; the northern end of the West 
Moriah range at Split Rock, and of the Adirondack Mountains 
at Trembleau Point, near Port Kent. These several ranges 
run from the lake in a south-westerly direction, increasing 
in altitude as they recede, and presenting a scene at once 
bold and beautiful, — hill after hill rising gradually above 
each other, until the highest peaks attain an elevation of 
over five thousand feet. From the west the snow-crowned 
rocks of Mount 3Iarcy, old White Face, and half a dozen 



12 LAKE CnAMPLAIN. 

other giants among the hills look down in solemn grandeur 
on the lake ; while, on the east, the eye passes over green 
fields to trace along the horizon the clear blue outline of 
Jay's Peak, Old Mansfield's Chin and Nose, and Camel's 
Hump, the poetic Xwm Conchmt o^ t\\Q French. i 

The original Indian name of Lake Champlain has been a 
subject of much speculation and research. By some it is 
supposed to have been called Peta-u-a-honque, meaning 
alternate land and water, in allusion to its numerous islands 
and projecting points of land. Among the other names 
ascribed to the lake are Caiiiaderi-guarunte, the door or 
mouth of the country; Petow-par-goio, the great water, and 
Ska-ne-to(jh-ro-wa]i-na^ the largest lake. The early French 
writers do not refer to its Indian name, but speak of the 
lake as the passage that leads to the country of the Iroquois. 
Among the papers published in O'Callaghan's Docmnentai-y 
History of New York in relation to the old French grants 
on Lake Champlain, is a letter from Governor Ti'yon to 
Lord Dartmouth, in which he states that this lake is called 
on Blain & Ogilby's and other ancient maps the Mer des 
Iroquois, the Richelieu Hiver, Riviere des Iroquois^ and 
the tract on the east side of the lake Iroscosia. From 
this it has been conjectured that the lake was called Yroquois 
by the Indians. But this is explained by Charlevoix, who 
says that the name was given to the river and lake by the 
French, because the Mohawk Iroquois were in the habit of 
passing through those waters in their incursions into the 



1 The following are the elevations, ahove tide, of some of the 
peaks seen from Lake Champlain. 

On the New York side, Mt. Marcy 5,467 feet ; Dix's Peak, 5,200 ; 
Nipple Top, 4,900; Whiteface, 4,900; Raven Hill, 2,100; Bald 
Peak, 2,065. 

On the Vermont side, The Chin, 4,848; The Nose, 4,044 ; Cam- 
el's Hump, 4,083 ; Jay's Peak, 4,018 ; Killington Peak, 3,924. 



LAKE CHAMFLAIN. \^ 

French settlements on the St. Lawrence. Champlain affixed 
his own name to the lake during his exploration of its shores 
in July, 1609. At a later day it was sometimes called Lake 
Corlear, in honor of a Dutchman who in 1666 saved a party 
of French and Canada Indians from being destroyed by a 
war party of the Mohawks, and who, in the year after, was 
accidentally drowned in it while on his way to Canada. 



In the following chapters I propose to collect many facts 
connected with the history of Lake Champlain. No part of 
the United States is more interesting from its historic inci- 
dents. Every bay and island of the lake and nearly every 
foot of its shore has been the scene of some warlike move- 
ment — the midnight foray of the predatory savage, the 
bloody scout of frontier settlers, the rendezvous of armed 
bands, or the conflict of contending armies. These stirring 
incidents extend in tradition far beyond the first discovery 
of the lake, and are brought down by scattered and uncon- 
nected history, in an almost uninterrupted series of strifes 
and contentions, to the close of the war of 1812. 



CHAPTER I. 

Progress of Discoveries b}' the French in Canada — Character of the Indian 
Tribes — Champlain's Visit to Lake Champlain in 1609 — Battle between the 
Canada Indians and the Iroquois — Fort erected on Isle La Motte — De Cour- 
celles' Expedition to the Mohawk River. 

But little progress was made by the French in their 
American discoveries until the spring of 1534, when 
Jacques Cartier sailed from France with two small vessels, 
and in the month of May reached Bonavista in Newfound- 
land. Cartier coasted around the north shore of the 
island, and along the Gulf of the St. Lawrence, returning to 
France in September. The following year he left France 
with three ships, and entering the mouth of the St. LaAvrence, 
ascended that river as far as the St. Croix (St. Charles) , 
near the Indian village Stadacona (Quebec), where he passed 
the winter. While his party were preparing their win- 
ter quarters, Cartier, with thirty-five armed men, proceeded 
up the river as far as Hochelaga (Montreal), where he arrived 
on the second day of October. 

" Hochelaga," says Warburton,i " stood in the midst of 
great fields of Indian corn; it was of a circular form, con- 
taining about fifty large huts, each fifty paces long and from 
fourteen to fifteen wide, all built in the shape of tunnels, 
formed of wood, and covered with birch bark ; the dwell- 
ings were divided into several rooms, surrounding an open 
court in the centre, where the fires burned. Three rows of 
palisades encircled the town, with only one entrance; above 
the gate, and over the whole length of the outer ring of de- 
fence, there was a gallery, approached by flights of steps, 

1 Conquest of Canada, vol. I. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 15 

and plentifully provided with stones and other missiles to re- 
sist attack. This was a place of considerable importance, 
even in those remote days, as the capital of a great extent of 
country, and as having eight or ten villages subject to its 
sway. The inhabitants spoke the language of the great 
Hjuron nation, and were more advanced in civilization 
than any of their neighbors ; unlike other tribes, they cul- 
tivated the ground and remained stationary." This was 
Hochelaga in 1534. Seventy years later it had sunk into 
a decayed and unimportant place. 

On the 11th of October, Cartier rejoined his party at St. 
Croix, and the following spring returned to France. Early 
in the spring of lS41 he again sailed for America, and enter- 
ing the St. Lawrence, passed up that stream as high as the 
rapids of Lachine. The next spring he returned to Europe 
and soon afterwards died. No efibrt was made by the French 
to colonize Canada, after the return of Cartier and his asso- 
ciates, until the year 1603, when an armament was fitted 
out, under the command of Pontgrave, to make further dis- 
coveries in the St. Lawrence. Among the of&cers who ac- 
companied this expedition was Samuel de Champlain, a 
captain in the French Navy and a native of Saintonge. 
Pontgrave and Champlain explored the St. Lawrence as far 
as the Lachine rapids, which was the highest point reached 
by Cartier sixty-eight years before. In 1604 Champlain 
accompanied De Monts to Canada, and again returned to 
France in the fall of that year. 

In 1608, De Monts, who was at the head of a trading 
company, equipped two ships at Honfleur, and sent them 
out under the command of Champlain and Pontgrave, for 
the purpose of establishing the fur trade at Tadoussac. 
Champlain reached Tadoxissac on the 3d day of June. 
After a brief stay there he ascended the St. Lawrence and 
on the 3d of July, arrived at the ancient village of Stadacona, 



IQ LAKE CHAMPLAm. 

which he selected as the site of the future capital of 
Canada. 1 

When the French first visited Canada the Indians residing 
north of the river St. Lawrence were engaged in war with 
the Five Nations of Indians, who occupied the territory 
south of the St. Lawrence. The Five Nations were a power- 
ful confederacy, consisting of the Mohawks, the Oneidas, 
the Onoudagas, the Cayugas and the Senecas. They called 
themselves Aganuschioni, or United People.- By the Dela- 
wares they were called Miugoes ; by the French, Iroquois, 
and by the Dutch the Maquas. Lafitau gives them the 
name of the Ayonnonsionni, as does Charlevoix, who says, 
"Leurnom propre est Agonnonsionui, qui veut dire, faiseurs 
de cabannes ; parcequ'ils les batissent beaucoup plus solides, 
que la plupart des autres sauvages."^ In 1712, the Tus- 
caroras, who had been driven from the south by the English, 
were admitted into the confederacy, which was afterwards 
known as the Six Nations. 

Prior to the settlement of Canada by the French, the 
Iroquois occupied all the country south of the river St, 
Lawrence, and resided in numbers around Montreal and 
in the valley of Lake Champlain, but they had been 

J An ancient Castilian tradition existed that the Spaniards 
visited these coasts before the French, and having perceived no 
appearance of mines or riclies, they exclaimed frequently, "Aca 
nada," here is nothing; the natives caught up the sound, and when 
other Europeans arrived, repeated it to them. The strangers 
concluded that tliese words were a designation, and from that 
time this magnificent country bore the name of Canada. War- 
burton, vol.1. Charlevoix gives another derivation: "D'avtres 
d^rivent ce nom du mot Iroquois kannata, qui se prononce 
Cannada, et signifie unamas de cabanes." — Hist, de la Nouv. France, 
torn. I. 

'Governor Clinton's Z^/scour.sc before the New York Historical 
Society. 

^Charlevoix, tom. I. 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 



17 



driven off towards Lake Ontario by the Adirondacks, 
who lived near the Three llivers. The success of the 
Adirondacks was of short duration, for soon afterwards they, 
in their turn, were driven from tlieir ancient seats to a safer 
position below Quebec. ^ In 1608 the Iroquois resided upon 
the banks of the Mohawk and in several villages to the west 
of that river. They claimed the whole country lying on 
both sides of Lake Champlain, as far north as the St. Law- 
rence. The northern bank of the St. Lawrence was held 
by the Algonquins, the ancient and inveterate enemies of 
the Iroquois. The Hurons, a numerous nation residing west 
of Lake Ontario, were in alliance with the Algonquins and 
joined them in their wars against the Iroquois. 

The Iroquois were powerful, politic, warlike and coura- 
geous. They have been termed by Europeans the Romans 
of the West. - Charlevoix says the name Iroquois was 
formed from the Indian Hiro, which means I have said, 
with which these Indians always finished their speeches, 
and de kone, a AVord often used by them, and which, when 
pronounced with a drawl was a cry of grief, and when spoken 
short and quick, one of exultation.-^ They lived in villages 
around which they had extensive cultivated fields. These 
villages were enclosed with strong quadruple palisades 
of large timber, about thirty feet high, interlocked with each 
other, with an interval of not more than half a foot be- 
tween them. On the inner side of the palisades were galle- 
ries in the form of parapets defended with double pieces of 
timber. ' The Algonquins were a warlike nation, and the 
most polished of the northern tribes. They were a migratory 
people, disdaining the cultivation of the soil and depend- 



1 Gordon. 

2 Warburton, vol. I. 
' Charlevoix, torn I. 

* Cliamplain's Voyages de la Nouv. France. 
3 



Ig LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 

ing altogether on the produce of the chase. The Hurons 
had some slight knowledge of husbandry, but were more 
effeminate and luxurious than the other tribes, and inferior in 
savage virtue and independence. ^ They lived in villages, of 
which the nation possessed twenty, but which were inferior 
in construction and strength to those of the Iroquois. 

When Champlain landed at Quebec he found the Algon- 
quins and Hurons engaged in active war with the Mohawks, 
one of the oldest and most powerful branches of the Five 
Nations. Learning from some Indians who visited his 
encampment in the winter, that they intended an inroad into 
the country of their enemy in the course of the approach- 
ing summer, he determined to accompany them, and by that 
means, not only explore a river and large lake through 
which the war party would pass, but by his powerful assist- 
ance strengthen the friendship which then existed between 
the French and the neighboring Indians. For this purpose, 
on the 18th of April, 1609, he left Quebec on board a pinnace 
accompanied by a small party of followers, and ascending 
the St. Lawrence as far as the mouth of the Richelieu, 
passed up that stream to the foot of the rapids near Chambly. 
Hero a war party of sixty Algonquins and Hurons joined 
him, and commenced preparations for the incursion. 

It would seem that it was (Jhamplain's intention to take 
his whole party with him; but the men, intimidated by the 
small number of the Indians, or from some other cause, re- 
fused to proceed any further, and after the strongest appeals 
on the part of Champlain, but two would accompany him. 
With these alone he determined to join the Indians on their 
long and perilous expedition. All their arrangements being 
completed, Champlain and his two companions, on the 2d of 
July, embarked with the Indians in twenty-four canoes and 



1 Warburton, vol. I. 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. "[9 

that day proceeded up the river to a point about nine miles 
above the ishind of St Theresa, where they encamped for 
the night. The next day they continued on as far as the 
lake, which they entered on the following morning, and 
coasted along its west shore until they came within two or 
three days journey of the place where they expected to meet 
the enemy. After this they traveled only by night, each 
morning retiring into a barricaded camp to pass the day. 
The party advanced with the utmost caution, keeping their 
canoes close together, and making no noise which might be 
heard by the enemy should they happen to be near. During 
the whole journey they used no fire and lived upon dried 
Indian meal soaked in water. 

In his account of this expedition, Champlain particularly 
refers to the superstition of the Indians, and the importance 
they attach to dreams. ^ Whenever he awoke they would 
eagerly inc[uire whether he had dreamed of or seen their 
enemies. One day, while the party lay concealed near 
Crown Point, Champlain fell asleep and thought he saw the 
Iroquois drowning in the lake within sight of the encamp- 
ment. On awaking he related the dream to the Indians, 
which, he says, " gained such credit among them that they 
no longer doubted but they should meet with success." That 
same night about ten o'clock, while proceeding cautiously 
along, they met a war party of the Iroquois, who were pass- 
ing down the lake in canoes. 

As soon as the two parties discovered each other the Iro- 



1 The Indian trusts to his dreams, and invariably holds them 
sacred. Before he engages in any important undertaking, partic- 
ularly in war, diplomacy, or the chase, the dreams of the principal 
chiefs are carefully watched and examined ; by their interpreta- 
tion his conduct is guided. In this manner the fate of a whole 
nation has often been decided by the chance vision of a single 
man. — Conquest of Canada, I, 192. 



20 LAKE CUAMPLAIX. 

quois hastened to the shore, and having first secured their 
canoes, began to cut down trees and form a barricade. The 
others pushed out towards the centre of the lake, and pro- 
ceeded to fasten their canoes together, and then secured them 
with poles in a position within arrow-shot of the barricade. 
Two canoes were then sent towards the shore to inquire 
whether the Iroquois wished to fight, who answered they 
did, but proposed, as it was then dark, that the battle be 
deferred until morning. To this the Algonquins and IIu- 
rons agreed, and both parties passed the night in singing 
and taunting their rivals with cowardice and imbecility. 
Champlain and his two companions were equipped in light 
armor, and each carried an arquebus. They were placed in 
different canoes and kept themselves concealed from sight, 
least the Iroquois might be alarmed at their appearance 
and decline the combat. 

On the following morning an engagement took place 
which is thus recorded by Champlain. ^ " The moment we 
landed they (the Algonquins and Hurons) began to run 
about two hundred paces towards their enemies who stood 
firm, and had not yet perceived my comijanions, who went 
into the bush with some savages. Our Indians commenced 
calling me in a loud voice, and opening their ranks placed 
me at their head about twenty paces in advance, in which 
order we marched until I was in thirty jDaces of the enemy. 
The moment they saw me they halted, gazing at me and I at 
them. When I saw them preparing to shoot at us, I raised 
my arquebus, and aiming directly at one of the three chiefs, 
two of them fell to the ground by this shot, and one of their 
companions received a wound of which he afterwards died. 
I had put four balls in my arquebus. Our party, on witness- 
ing a shot so favorable for them, set up such tremendous 



1 Voyages de la Xouv. France. 



LAKE CUAMPLAIJSr. 21 

stouts tliat tliunder could not have been heard ; and yet 
there was no lack of arrows on one side and the other. The 
Iroquois were greatly astonished at seeing two men killed 
so instantaneously, notwithstanding they were provided with 
arrow-proof armor woven of cotton thread and wood ; this 
frightened them very much. Whilst I was reloading, one 
of my companions in the bush fired a shot, which so aston- 
ished them anew, seeing their chiefs slain, that they lost 
courage, took to flight, and abandoned the field and their 
fort, hiding themselves in the depth of the forests, whither 
pursuing them I killed some others. Our savages also killed 
several of them and took ten or twelve pi'isoners. The rest 
carried ofi" the wounded. Fifteen or sixteen of our party 
were wounded by arrows; they were promptly cured." 

This battle was fought on the 30th of July, near what 
Champlain describes as "the point of a cape which juts into 
the lake on the west side." Some writers have located the 
battle-ground on Lake George. Doctor Fitch ^ thinks it was 
upon one of the points of land in the town of Dresden or 
Putnam, south of Ticonderoga; but, from an examination 
of Champlain's .map of New France, 2 it is evident that the 
engagement took place somewhere between Crown Point 
and Lake Gleorge, probably in the town .of Ticonderoga. 

As soon as the victorious party had gathered the weap- 
ons and other spoils left behind by the Iroquois, they em- 
barked on their return to Canada. Proceeding about eight 
leagues down the lake, they landed after night fall, when 
the Indians put one of their prisoners to death with the 
most horrible and protracted tortures. The rest of their 
captives were taken to Canada. At the rapids of the 
Richelieu the party separated, and the Indians returned to 

^Historical Survey of Washington County. 

2 A copy of tliis map will be found in vol. 3, of O'Callaghan's 
Documentary History of New York. 



22 LAKE CUAMl'LAIN. 

tlieir homes, well satisfied, says Clianiplaiii, with the result 
of the expedition, and xittorint;' strong- professions of grati- 
tude anil IViondship for the French.' 

The above is, in substance, Chaniplain's narrative of the 
first visit of civilized uian within the limits of the state of 
New Vork. Two months later Henry Hudson entered New 
York Bay and ascended the North Iliver as far as the present 
village of Waterford.'- Thus were the northern aiul south- 
ern sectio!is of the state almost simultaneously explored by 
the European. 

After the departure of the Indians Champlain returned 
to Quebec. He continued governor of (^luada until 1()29, 
when he surrendered the government to the Knglish and re- 
turned home. In 1G32 Canada was restored to France, and 
the next year ('hamplain was reappointed governor of the 
colony; which situation he continued to hold until his death, 
at Quebec, in 1G.')5. 

Champlain was brave, higb-minded, active and generous, 
and eminent for his Christian zeal and purity. "The salva- 
tion of one soul,'' he often said, " is of more value than the 
conquest of an enemy." During his life he fostered Chris- 
tianity and civilization, and succeeded in planting them among 
the snows of (Canada. The only great mistake of his admin- 
istration was an injudicious interference in the (juarrels be- 



1 Charlevoix and most English writers say that Champlain, on 
this expedition, ascended a rapid and passed into another lake 
afterward called Lake St. Sacreuient. Champlain, in his account, 
says the Indians told him of a waterfall and of a lake beyond, 
three or four leagues lony, and adds that he saw the waterfall, but 
says notliingofthe lake. Had he explored the lakehewo.uld 
nut have represented it as only three or four leagues long. 

- Hudson tirst entered New York Bay in September 1609. lie 
sailed up the river as far as Albany, and embarking in small boats 
continued on to Waterford, where he arrived on the -2d of that 
mouth. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 23 

tween the Indians. By this means lie directed the hostility 
of the warlike Iroquois against. the French, and created an 
implacable hatred on the part of that powerful nation which 
time could not heal, nor the blood of a thousand victims 
soften. 

Mons. de Montmagny succeeded Champlain as governor 
of New France. In 1641 he erected a fort at the mouth of 
the Richelieu, as a protection against the repeated inroads of 
the Indians by the way of Lake Champlain. M. de Mont- 
magny was succeeded by M. D'Ailleboust, in the course of 
whose administration, of three years, i the Iroquois made 
sevei'al incursions into the territory of the Hurons and drove 
them from the fertile banks of the Ottawa. These victories 
of the Iroquois rendered them more audacious than ever. 
Breaking a solemn treaty of peace made with M. de Mont- 
magny several years before, they again appeared among the 
French settlements despising forts and barricades and in- 
sulting the humble husbandman with impunity. In their 
attacks no force was too strong for them to overcome ; no 
hiding place too secret for them to discover. So great, at 
length, became the audacity of these savages that they sud- 
denly fell upon a body of Algonquins under the very guns 
of the fortress of Quebec, and massacred them without 
mercy. 

A dark and unpropitious gloom hung over the affairs of 
the colony until the arrival of the Marquis de Tracy, as vice- 
roy, in 1664. M. de Tracy brought with him the Carignan- 
Salieres, a veteran regiment which had greatly distinguished 
itself in the wars against the Turks. Immediately on the 
arrival of these troops they were sent, accompanied by the 
allied Indians, against the Iroquois, and soon cleared the 



iThe Governors of New France held ofiBce for three years only; 
in consequence of a decree that no one man should hold the govern- 
ment of a colony for more than that length of time. — Warhurton. 



24 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

country of those troublesome enemies. Having established 
peace throughout the colony, M. de Tracy prepared to adopt 
measures to make the security permanent. The hostile In- 
dians had been accustomed to approach the French settle- 
ments by the way of Lake Cham plain and the Kichelieu 
River, and to effectually block up this avenue three captains 
of the Carignan regiment, M. de Sorel, de Chambly, and de 
Salieres, were ordered to erect forts on that river. 

M. de Sorel built a fort at the mouth of the river, on the 
site of old fort Richelieu erected by de Montmagny in 1641. 
M. de Chambly constructed one at the foot of the rapids, in 
the present village of Chambly, which he called Fort St. Louis, 
and M. de Salieres built another nine miles above, which he 
named St. Theresa, because it was finished on that Saint's 
day. The next year M. de la Mothe, another captain in 
the Carignan regiment, was sent to Lake Champlain to con- 
struct a fort on an island near the lower end of the lake, 
which was intended to serve as a place of rendezvous, "from 
which continual attacks could be made on the enemy." ^ 
This fort was called St. Anne. 

As soon as tidings of the erection of these forts reached 
the Iroquois, three of those tribes sent deputies to Quebec 
with proposals of peace. M. de Tracy gave them a friendly 
audience, and sent them back with valuable presents. 

About the same time he determined to invade the country 
of the Mohawks, who Avith the Oncidas remained stubborn 
and inflexible, and to inflict summary punishment upon them 
for their former insolence and treachery. With this view 
M. de (\)urcelles was ordered to fit out a military expedition, 
with the utmost despatch. On the 0th of Jan., 1GG6, he 
started with three hundred men of the regiment of Carignan- 
Salieres, and two hundred volunteers, hahituns, for Fort St. 



^Relations, <j-c. en la Nouv. France, 1GG4-5. 



LAKE C'EAMPLAm. 25 

Theresa, wliicli had been designated as the place of rendezvous. 
The weather was so severe that before they had advanced 
three days' journey many of the men would have perished, 
had they not been carried along by their companions. On 
the 24th, Sieurs de la Fouille, Maximin and Lobiac, captains 
of the Carignan regiment, joined the army with sixty men 
and some hahitans^ but before they reached St. Theresa so 
many men had become disabled that it was necessary to 
withdraw four companies from the forts on the Richelieu to 
supply the vacancies in the ranks. 

On the 30th of January de Courcelles marched out of Fort 
St. Theresa at the head of five hundred men, and passing 
the lake on the ice, crossed the country towards the Mohawk 
villages. The snow was nearly four feet deep, and the men 
were obliged to use snow-shoes to pass over it. As horses 
could make no progress through the deep snow, a large 
number of slight sledges were prepared which were loaded 
with provisions and dragged along by the men, or by large 
dogs brought on for that purpose. Each man, including all 
the officers, carried upon his back from twenty-five to thirty 
pounds of biscuit or other supplies. ^ The intention of the 
French had been to march directly against the Mohawk 
villages, but having lost their way, through the ignorance of 
their guides, they turned too far to the south, and on the 9th 
of February arrived within two miles of Schenectady, where 
they encamped. Here they were met by a small party of 
Mohawks, who, pretending to retreat were carelessly pursued 
by sixty of the French fusileers, who were thus drawn into 
an ambuscade of about two hundred Indian warriors securely 
posted behind the trees of the forest. At the first volley of 
the Indians eleven of the ,French, including a lieutenant, 



1 Relations de ce qui s'est passe en la Nouv: France en annees 
1G65-6. 

4 



26 LAKE CnAMPLAIN. 

were killed and several wounded. The fusileers discliarged 
their pieces and immediately fell back upon the main body 
of the army, while the Indians retired with a loss of three 
killed and six wounded, taking with them the scalps of four 
Frenchmen which they exhibited in the streets of Schenec- 
tady. It is said the whole company of fusileers would have 
been massacred, but for the intercession of Corlear, a Dutch- 
man greatly beloved by the Mohawks, who humanely inter- 
ceded in their behalf. ^ 

Information of the approach of the French having been 
sent to Fort Albany by the authorities of Schenectady, three 
of the principal citizens were sent to M. de Courcelles to 
inquire what were his intentions in invading the country 
belonging to the English. De Courcelles replied that he had 
no desire to molest the English in their possessions, but came 
solely to seek out and punish the 3Iohawks, who were the 
unrelenting enemies of the French. He also represented to 
them the state of his army, worn out with fatigue and hunger, 
and requested that they would sell him provisions and 
consent that he might send his wounded to Albany. The 
English readily assented to this, and the next day seven 
wounded Frenchmen wei'e sent to Albany. The inhabitants 
also carried large quantities of beans, bread and other pro- 
visions to the French camp, for which they were liberally 
paid. 

De Courcelles having rested his men until the 12th, sud- 
denly broke up his camp and hastily retraced his steps to 
Lake Champlain, and from thence to Canada. The Mohawks, 
who were at their first village, learning the retreat of the 
French, immediately started in pursuit, and followed them 
as far as the lake, where they took three prisoners and 



1 Gordon says the whole of De Courcelles' party would have 
been destroyed but for the intercession of Corlear. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 27 

found the bodies of five men who had perished of cold and 
h linger. 1 

The expedition of M. de Courcelles, although it had 
failed to reach the 3Iowhak villages, through the mistake of 
the guides, caused much anxiety to the Indians ; nor were 
their fears diminished by the information communicated by 
the prisoners that I\I. de Tracy intended to send a much 
larger force into their country the next summer. To avert 
the threatening storm they determined to make immediate 
overtures of peace. Accordingly, in June, 16GG, ten ambas- 
sadors from the Mohawks, accompanied by a delegation of 
Oneidas, repaired to Quebec, asking protection for their 
people and a renewal of the old treaties of peace. M. de 
Tracy at first refused to receive their wampum belts, but 
perceiving that this caused them great anxiety, he finally 
accepted their proposals. But while the negotiations were 
in progress at Quebec, and just as the French viceroy began 
to congratulate himself upon the future security of his co- 
lony, a tragedy took place on Lake Champlain, which for the 
time defeated his plans, and destroyed all his confidence in 
the professions of the Indian deputies. 

Fort St. Anne was at this time garrisoned by several com- 
panies of the Carignan regiment, one of which was com- 
manded by Sieur de Chasy, a nephew of the viceroy. Ap- 
prised of the friendly professions of the Mohawks and their 
desire for peace, the ambassadors of that nation having 
passed the fort on their way to Quebec, the officers relaxed 
their usual vigilance and amused themselves with fishing and 
hunting in the neighborhood. While a small party of 
French officers and soldiers were thus engaged, they were 
suddenly attacked by a band of Mohawk Indians, who killed 



1 Doc. Hist. Nciu York, I, pp. G4 et seq. 



28 LAKE CEAMPLAUSf. 

two Carignan captains, de Travesy and de Chasy, and took 
several volunteers prisoners. Information of this treacher- 
ous act was immediately sent to Quebec, and one of the 
Indian deputies had the vain audacity to boast, at M. de 
Tracy's table, that he had slain the officers with his own 
hand. The Indian was seized and strangled on the spot 3 
and M. de Tracy, breaking off all negotiations, sent M. de 
Sorcl, at the head of three hundred men, against the Mohawk 
villages, with orders to overrun the whole country, and to 
put every inhabitant to the sword. M. de Sorel had by 
forced marches crossed Lake Champlain, and was pushing 
rapidly towards the Indian villages, when he was met by a 
new deputation from the Mohawks, bringing back the French- 
men taken prisoners near Fort St. Anne, and offering every 
satisfaction for the murders committed there. 

Still desirous to secure peace, and in the belief that the 
demonstration already made had over-awed the Indians, M. 
de Sorel retraced his steps to Quebec, where negotiations 
were again resumed with such success that, on the 12th of 
July a treaty was signed by which the Indians agreed to 
restore the Canadian, Algonquin and Huron prisoners in 
their hands, and to become the fast friends and allies of the 
French. On the other part, the viceroy promised to extend 
his protection over their nation, "to send some black gowns 
(Jesuit missionaries) among them " and " to open a trade 
and commerce by the Lac du Sainte Sacrement. " ^ 



^ Relations, en annces 1665-6. 



CHAPTER II. 

M de Tracy collects a large Army at Me La Motte-He marches againBt and 
destroys the Mohawk Villages-Condition of Cauada-De Oallieres Pro,ect 
for the Invasion of New York-Burning of Schenectady-Captam John Schuy- 
ler's Attack on Fort Laprairie-Major Philip Schuyler's Expedition to Can- 
ada— De Fronteuac marches against the Mohawks. 
War is the deliglit of the savage. It furnishes an excite- 
ment necessary to his happiness. Without it he pines and 
wastes in insufferable quiet; a restless, miserable being. 
To gratify his passion for war he hesitates not to violate the 
most sacred treatics,or break the ties of long-continued friend- 
ship. "We must either," says Sir William Johnson, i " permit 
these people to cut each other's throats, or risk their fury on 
our traders and defenceless frontiers." 

M. de Tracy soon found that he could only secure perma- 
nent peace and quiet to the colony, by an expedition into the 
Mohawk country of such force as to make that implacable 
nation feel the destructive power of the French arms. With 
such an army he now prepared to march against the Indian 
villages on the Mohawk lliver. Never had Fort St. Anne 
presented so lively a scene as was beheld there in Septem- 
ber, 1666. Within the fort and close under its defences 
were collected six hundred veterans of the Carignan-Salieres, 
while on the main shore opposite lay encamped an equal 
number of volunteers, liahitans of the colony. One hundred 
Huron and Algonquin warriors, bedaubed with paint and 
bedecked with feathers, stalked majestically among the 
crowd, and rendered the night boisterous with their war 
songs and dances. The labor of preparing this expedition, 



Letter to Earl of Hillsborough. 



30 LAKE CUAMPLAIX. 

the largest which had yet been collected on Lake Cham- 
plain, was confined to 31. Talon, inteudant of'New France. 

On the 1st of October M. de Courcelles started from the 
fort at the head of four hundred men. On the 3d the main 
body of the army moved ofi" under the immediate command 
of M. de Tracy, who, despite his advanced years, was deter- 
mined to lead the expedition in person. Four days after- 
wards .Sieurs de Chambly and Berthier followed with the 
rear guard. The progress of the army after it reached 
the upper end of the lake was slow and laborious, as the men 
dragged with them two small pieces of cannon and three 
hundred bateaux or bark canoes, which had been provided for 
crossing the lakes and rivers on the route. It was de Tracy's 
intention to surprise the Indians before they should learn of 
his advance; but, notwithstanding the great caution of the 
troops, the Mohawks received timely information of their 
approach, and abandoning the villages, secreted themselves 
in the surrounding forests, or ascended the mountains, and 
from a distance fired random shots at the soldiers. The 
French found the cabins of this nation larger and better built 
than any they had seen elsewhere. The villages were sur- 
rounded by a triple pali.sade twenty feet in height, newly re- 
paired and strengthened and flanked by four bastions. Large 
quantities of Indian corn, beans and other provisions were 
stored away in magazines sunk in the ground ; and numerous 
bark-tanks, filled with water, stood within the enclosure to 
supply the inhabitants, and to aid in extinguishing fires 
when necessary. Everything indicated that the Indians in- 
tended to make a strong defence, had they not been intimid- 
ated by the strength and numbers of the invaders. But as 
it was, not a warrior or able-bodied man was to be seen ; 
they had fled, leaving behind only the women and a few 
old and decrepit men too feeble to escape. These M. de 
Tracy retained as prisoners. In this manner he passed 



LAKE CHAMPLAm. 31 

through the whole country until he reached the most remote 
Mohawk village, which he burned. After celebrating mass 
and returning thanks to Grodfor the success of the enterprise, 
the French retraced their steps towards Canada, on their 
way burning the other villages and destroying all the provi- 
sions they could not carry off.i 

While the army was passing near Schenectady on its re- 
turn, M. de Courcelles called upon Corlear, who it will be 
remembered had rendered the French such signal service 
the preceding winter, and invited him to visit Canada. On 
Lake Champlain the fleet of boats encountered a heavy 
storm, which capsized two canoes with eight persons on 
board, all of whom were unfortunately drowned. Among 
the persons thus lost were Corlear and Lieut. Sieur de Lu- 
ges, an officer of great merit and distinction. ^ 

The expedition of M. de Tracy effectually subdued the 
Mohawks, and for the nest twenty-years secured the settle- 
ments on the St. Lawrence from the inroads of that nation. 
But Canada was not destined long to enjoy the blessings of 
profound peace. Ten years had scarcely clasped before she 
found herself again engaged in a destructive war with the 
Western Iroquois, which continued, with short intervals of 
truce and with varied success, until the treaty of Utrecht in 
1713. For several years after the commencement of this 



1 Relations, ^t., en la Nouv : France, en annees 16G5-G. 

2 The accounts of these expeditions through Lake Champlain do 
not clearly indicate the route followed by the French, but it was 
probably along I he western border of the lake as far south as the 
outlet of Lake George, then up the outlet and through that lake- 
to its head, from whence it crossed the country to the waters of 
the Hudson River. In the treaty between the French and Iroquois, 
referred to at the close of the preceding chapter, it was expressly 
provided that trade and commerce be opened to the Iroquois, with 
New France, by the lake du Saint Sacrement. 



32 LAKE chaxplain: 

war the English colonists were on friendly terms with those 
of Canada, and repeatedly refused to aid the Western Iro- 
quois in their controversy with the French. They were 
equally careful to do nothing to prevent it. " The five Na- 
tions are a bulwark between us and the French, " said Gov- 
ernor Dongan.i That bulwark was strongest in war. In 
times of peace it might crumble into atoms. 

The accession of William and Mary to tlie throne of Eng- 
land in 1689, was followed by a war between the English 
and French, which continued until the peace of Kyswick in 
1697. The news of the quarrel between the mother countries 
soon reached America, and found the colonists of both nations 
not only willing, but anxious to participate in tlie struggle. 
The Chevalier de Callieres, who was governor of Montreal 
and commander-in-chief of the troops and militia in Canada, 
visited France in the year 1689, and submitted to the king 
a project for the reduction of the province of New York, 
the reestablishment of French ascendency over the Five 
Nations, and the consequent control of the lucrative fur 
trade of America. 

De Callieres' plan was to lead an army of two thousand 
men up the Richelieu lliver and Lake Champlain as far as 
the carrying place between Wood Creek and the Hudson 
River, where he would build a small log fort, and garrison it 
with two hundred men to guard the bateaux during his 
absence. With the rest of his army he would march direct- 
ly against Fort Orange (Albany) which he would seize, and 
then, embarking in the boats and canoes found there, would 
push on for New York. This town he represented as con- 
taining two hundred house?, and protected by a small fort 
which could offer but a slight resistance to his attack. To 
prevent succor reaching the town from Boston or England, 



^Dongan's Report to the Committee of Ti-adc: 1G87. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 33 

he required that two ships of war should be sent to cruise 
ill the mouth of the river until his arrival. De Callieres 
predicted the greatest benefits to France from the success of 
his project. " It will, " he declared, " firmly establish the 
Christian religion as well among the Iroquois as among the 
other savages to whom we shall be able to speak as masters, 
when they are encricled on the side of Canada as well as of 
New York. It will secure and facilitate the cod-fishery, 
which is carried on along our coasts of Lacadie and on 
the Great Bank. It will give his majesty one of the finest 
harbors in xVmerica which can be entered during almost all 
seasons of the year, in less than one month of very easy navi- 
gation." Accept the favorable opportunity which presents 
itself of becoming masters of New York, adds de Callieres in 
conclusion, and the trade of our colony will flourish ; reject it 
and English intrigues with the Iroquois and other savages 
will destroy Canada in a little while. ^ 

The French king received de Callieres with favor, and in 
June of the same year sent instructions to Count de Fronte- 
nac, then viceroy of Canada, to organize an expedition to 
carry out the proposed plan, and directed that de Callieres 
should be appointed governor of the conquered province. 
The king also ordered Sieur Begon to send out two ships of 
war under command of Sieur de la Caffiniere, who was in- 
structed to place himself under the direction of de Fronte- 
nac. Should the proposed expedition fail, de Caffiniere was 
ordered "to make war against the English, and to range 
along the coasts of New England and New York, to capture 
as many prizes as possible, and to remain there until he have 
no more provisions than are necessary for his return to 
France. "- 

While the French were engaged in prosecuting the war 



iDe Callieres to the Marquis of Seignelay, .January, 1G89. 
2 Instructions to Count do Froutenac, June 7tb, 1G89. 

5 



34 LAKE CUAMPLAIN. 

witli the Indians at the west, they seem to have been regard- 
less of the exposed state of the frontier towards Lake Cham- 
plain. The old forts of St. Anne and St. Theresa, which had 
proved so great a protection twenty years before, were 
Buffered to decay. Montreal was not fortified ; a triple 
palisade, in poor repair, being its main defence. Indeed the 
only work in that quarter of any strength was the fort at 
Chambly, which had been rebuilt of stone and was surrounded 
by a small but flourishing settlement. On the 12th of 
November, 1687, a formidable party of the Iroquois suddenly 
attacked this fort. The garrison made a successful resistance, 
but the settlement around was ravaged and several of the 
inhabitants taken prisoners. A few days later the whole 
country between the St. Lawrence and the Richelieu swarmed 
with a savage host, who demanded immediate audience 
with the governor, ]M. de Denonville; and haughtily dictated 
peace to the weak and terrified inhabitants. " Look, " cried 
the proud chief, pointing towards a band of twelve hundred 
warriors at his back, "we are like the leaves of the forest in 
number, and stronger than the mighty oak. Your people 
are few and weak. We have no occasion to lift our whole 
hand, for our little finger is sufficient to destroy you." 
Denonville bowed before a storm he could not resist, and con- 
cluded a treaty upon the terms proposed by the savages. 

Of short duration was this boon of peace to the French, 
the acceptance of which alike proclaimed their own humilia- 
tion and the power of their savage foe. On the 26th of July, 
1688, twelve hundred Indian warriors landed on the island 
of Montreal, and having overpowered a force of one hundred 
and fifty Canadians and fifty Indians imprudently sent against 
them, devastated the whole settlement, killing nearly a 
thousand of the inhabitants and carrying two hundred of 
them into captivity. ^ The St. Lawrence frontier was now at 



iGordon — Wai'burton, vol. I. 



LAKE CUAMPLAIN. 35 

the mercy of the fierce and relentless Iroquois. The power of 
the French was paralyzed; trade languished, agriculture was 
interrupted, and the very existence of the colony threatened. 

Such was the gloomy condition of aifairs when the instruc- 
tions of the king for an invasion of New York, reached the 
Count de Froatenac. The troops in Canada consisted of 
thirty-five companies of regulars, each of which, when full, 
numbered fifty men. But at least four hundred and fifty 
were required to fill the ranks, so that the actual number did 
not exceed thirteen hundred. ^ Of the hahitans three thou- 
sand were able to bear arms.'- Although de Frontenac could 
not send out an expedition of the magnitude and strength 
proposed in his instructions, he nevertheless determined to 
organize three small detachments to march against the Eng- 
lish. One was to rendezvous at Montreal, and was to proceed 
against Albany ; another was to assemble at Three Rivers, 
from whence a descent was to be made upon the settlements 
near the Connecticut ; and the third was to start from Quebec 
to attack the settlements on the seaboard, east of Boston. 

The party which left Three Rivers surprised and destroyed 
the English settlement of Salmon Falls, and on their retreat, 
falling in with M. de Mamerval, who had marched from 
Quebec, they joined him in an attack on the fortified village 
of Kaskebe upon the sea coast, which they captured after a 
severe struggle. '^ 

The third and most important detachment numbered two 
hundred and ten men, including ninety-six Huron and Algon- 
quin Indians. This detachment was placed under the com- 



iDe Callieres to the Marquis of Seignelay. 

' This was the estimated number in 1G87. It had probably 
decreased during the two succeeding years. — See Gov. Dongan's 
Report to Board of Trade. 

• Warburton, vol. I. 



36 



LAKE CnAMPLAIN. 



maml of two Canadian officers, Sicur la Moyne de St. Helonc 
and Lieutenant d'Aillebout dc Mantct, having under them 
d'Iberville and de Montesson. Attached to the expedition 
as volunteers were Sieurs de Bonrepos and de la Brosse, two 
Calvinist officers, and Sieurs de ])lainvilleand de Montigny. 
The party left Montreal about the middle of the month of 
January, 1G90, and crossing to the liichelieu ascended that 
river and Lake Champlain on the ice. At the close of the 
sixth day's march a consultation was held to determine the 
route to be taken, and to regulate the plan of attack. The 
Indians asked where the officers proposed to lead them. To 
this de St. Helene replied that he had received no orders to 
march against any particular place, but generally to act as 
he should think best, and that he wished to attack and sur- 
prise Fort Orange, which he represented as the capital of 
New York and a place of considerable importance. The 
Indians, remembering the defeats of the French during the 
preceding year, and holding their prowess in light esteem, 
opposed this plan as rash and impracticable. "Attack an 
armed fort indeed," cried a swarthy warrior sarcastically. 
"-Since when have the French become so desperate?" "We 
wish to regain our honor," replied de Mantet, " or perish in 
so glorious an enterprise." The Indians, however, remained 
unconvinced, and the party moved on without coming to a 
decision. 

Eight days after this the party reached the point where the 
two routes to Albany and Schenectady diverged. The In- 
dians took the road leading towards Schenectady, and the 
French followed without objection. Nine days afterwards they 
arrived, about four in the evening, within two miles of that 
place. Here the savages were addressed by one of their 
chiefs, who ui'ged them to lose all recollection of their fa- 
tigue, and to prepare to take ample revenge for the injuries 
they had received from the Iroquois at the instigation of the 



LAKE CIIAMPLAIN. 37 

English. Having halted here to refresh themselves and 
prepare their arms, the party moved on, and about 11 o'clock 
came within sight of the village. The night was intensely 
cold and the citizens had retired early to bed — even those 
who usually guarded the gates of the palisade had with- 
drawn, leaving the entrances open and undefended. In pro- 
found silence the Canadian ofl&cers marched into the village 
and distributed their forces among the scattered houses. As 
soon as each man was properly posted, the savages raised 
the war cry, and the whole force rushed upon the unconscious 
inhabitants. De Mantet, at the head of one party, assaulted 
a small fort which he captured and burned; putting to death 
all who defended it. Do St. Helene rushed against the bar- 
ricaded doors of the private houses, beating them down with 
muskets and slaughtering every one who opposed his progress. 
In the confusion, M. de Montigny was wounded by the 
thrust of a spear. The massacre lasted for two hours, and 
during that time sixty of the inhabitants, including women 
and children, were butchered in cold blood. Having pillaged 
and burned every house in the village but two, the French 
and Indians, early the next morning, started on their return 
to Canada, taking with them twenty-seven prisoners and car- 
rying oflF fifty horses, besides a quantity of other property.! 
The news of this murderous assault reached Albany about 
five o'clock the next morning, and created the greatest con- 
sternation among its inhabitants. Alarm guns were fired 
from the fort, messages were sent to Esopus for assistance, 
and Laurence, a Mohawk chief then in Albany, hurried to 
the Mohawk castles to bring down the warriors of that nation. 
In three days a party of fifty young men from Albany and 



1 M. de Monseignat's account. In this account it is stated that 
" some twenty Mohawks were spared, in order to show them that 
it was the English and not they against whom the grudge was 
entertained." 



38 LAKE CUAMPLAIN. 

one hundred and fifty Indians were collected at Schenectady, 
and started in pursuit of the retreating marauders. At 
Crown Point the young men gave out, but Laurence and his 
Indians continued on as far as Canada, and succeeded in 
overtaking a party of Canadians, who had dropped to the 
rear of the main body, of whom they killed six and took 
twelve prisoners. 

The accounts given by these prisoners were of the most 
startling nature. Count de Frontenac, they said, was busily 
engaged preparing for an invasion of New York. He had 
already built one hundred and twenty bateaux and one hun- 
dred birch canoes, and he intended to pass up Lake Cham- 
plain in the spring at the head of fifteen hundred regular 
troops and one thousand allied Indians. Letters were now 
addressed by Lieutenant Grovernor Leisler to the governors 
of the different provinces, calling earnestly for aid to protect 
the exposed frontier beyond Albany. The Five Nations were 
also assembled in council, and agreed to furnish eighteen 
hundred warriors to fight the French. 

Nor were the authorities of Albany idle. On the 2Gth of 
March they ordered Captain Jacob to proceed to Crown 
Point with seventeen English and twenty Indians, and there 
watch the movements of the enemy. Four days later Captain 
Abram Schuyler was sent with nine men and a party of 
Mohawks under Laurence, to take post at Otter Creek, for a 
similar purpose. Captain Schuyler, while posted at Otter 
Creek, led a scouting party of eight Indians as far as Cham- 
bly, where he encountered a small party of the French, of 
whom he killed two and took one prisoner, i 

About the 10th of April, one of the parties on Lake Cham- 
plain sent in word that they had discovered the track of 
twelve French and Indians, proceeding in the direction of 
Albany. Warning of danger was immediately sent through- 



^ Documentary History of New York. 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 39 

out tlie country, and the inhabitants were advised to retreat 
into the neighboring towns for safety. Two fiinnlies, residing 
near Schenectady, neglected the advice, and were attacked 
during the night, eleven of their number being killed or 
captured, i 

Apprehending that this success might excite the French 
to further outrage, the New York colonists hastened their 
preparations for the invasion of Canada. On the 1st of IMay 
an agreement was concluded between the provinces of 
Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York, by which each 
was to furnish its quota of troops for the expedition.- At 
the urgent request of New England the command of the 
expedition was conferred upon John Winthrop. 

A naval expedition was also fitted out by the colonists 
and sent against Quebec, under command of Sir William 
Phipps. 

The army under Major General Winthrop, numbering 
eight hundred men, left Albany about the 1st of August, 
and proceeded on its march as far as Wood Creek. There 
Winthrop waited a few days for the promised reinforcement 
of Indians, but these not arriving, nor furnishing a supply of 
canoes to cross the lake, as they had promised to do, he 
called a council of war, who decided it inexpedient to pro- 
ceed further. The expedition was therefore abandoned, and 
the troops returned to Albany, where they were disbanded. 

Attached to Winthrop' s army was Captain John Schuyler 
of Albany, a man of great bravery and energy of character, 
and of considerable experience in border warfare. Schuyler, 
who was dissatisfied with the decision of the council of war, 



'^Documentary Ilistory of New York. 

2 New York was to furnish four hundred men ; Massachusetts, 
one hundred and sixty ; Connecticut, one hundred and thirty five, 
and Plymouth, sixty. Maryland promised one hundred men. 



40 LAKE CHAMPLAm. 

whicli he considered weak and cowardly, declared the cam- 
paign should not be abandoned so easily. Beating up for 
volunteers he soon gathered around him a little band of 
twenty-nine followers, each as bold and daring as himself. 
To these he added one hundred and twenty Indians who 
had arrived at the camp under command of Juriaen, called 
the Ferocious, and having loaded a number of canoes with 
provisions, proceeded, on the loth of August, as far as 
Canaghsionie (probably Whitehall) where he encamped for 
the night. The next day he again embarked with his party 
and on the 21st of the month reached a point "one mile 
below the sand bank of Chambly.''^ In the course of the 
journey one of the Indians died. "He died of sickness,^' 
adds the brave captain, evidently surprised that so quiet a 
dcAth should be reserved for a Mohawk. 

On the 22d the little party having first secreted their 
canoes and provisions, started by laud for Laprairie, which 
lay on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River about 
fifteen miles distant. While Schuyler was slowly approach- 
ing Laprairie, the inhabitants of that place were having a 
gala day in honor of their governor, the brave old Fronte- 
nac, who having learned from his scouts that Winthrop's 
army had retired, was marching with eight hundred men to 
Quebec, to repel the threatened attack of Sir William Phipps 
in that quarter. Little did the quiet husbandmen imagine, 
as they sat near their doors at evening, chatting over the 
stirring incidents of the day, repeating to listening ears the 
wonders they had seen, and rejoicing perhaps at a security 



1 Schuyler in his journal of this expedition gives the Indian 
names of several localities on Lake Champlain. On tlie IGth the 
party, he tells us, reached Kanondoro, and traveling all night, ar- 
rived the next morning at Oghraro. The next nigh-t they ti-aveled 
■ as far as Ogharonde, where " they determined, by the majorities, 
to fall upon Fort Laprairie." 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 41 

which the departure of the troops seemed to confirm, that a 
band of fierce and determined warriors lay secreted under 
the very trees which bordered the little settlement, ready 
with the morrow's sun to bring destruction and death about 
their rude but haj^py homes. 

Early on the morning of the 23d, Schuyler sent forward 
his spies, who soon returned with information that the in- 
habitants were leaving the fort to go into the fields to cut 
corn. It was Schuyler's intention to wait quietly until they 
reached the fields, and then place his party between them 
and the fort, so as to intercept their retreat ; but through the 
eagerness of some young savages, the war cry was prema- 
turely raised, and both the English and Indians rushed to the 
attack without waiting for orders. The French, taking 
alarm, hastily retired to the fort, but not until six of their 
number were killed and nineteen taken prisoners. As soon 
as the prisoners were secured, the assailants fell upon the 
cattle feeding around the fort, and killed one hundred and 
fifty head of oxen and cows. They also set fire to all the 
houses and barns outside the fort, which were speedily con- 
sumed. The English wished to attack the fort itself, but 
did not do so, as the Indians refused to aid them. The forts 
at Montreal and Chambly now answering the alarm guns fired 
at Laprairie, Schuyler hastened his departure, lest his retreat 
might be cut off. Before leaving, his Indians burned the 
body of one of their number, who had keen killed during 
the aifray. 

The party retreated about seven miles, when they halted 
for dinner. The same evening they reached the river and 
embarked in their canoes. The next day they went as far 
as the ruins of old Fort St. Anne, and on the 15th stopped 
on the long sand point near Port Kent, where they killed two 
elk. The next day's journey took them to a place which 
G ■ 



42 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

Schuyler calls The Little Stone Fort,i from ■which a canoe 
•was sent forward with the news. On the 27th the party 
reached tlie mouth of Wood Creek, and on the 31st arrived 
with their prisoners at Alban}'."^ 

During the winter oflG90-l, the New York colonists 
were too much occupied with their internal disputes to give 
much attention to military affairs. In the spring however 
their difficulties ceased, and active measures were at once 
adopted to carry on the war with Canada. The frontier posts 
of Albany, Schenectady and Half-3Ioon were repaired, the 
militia reorganized and a conference held with the Five Na- 
tions, with whom the French emissaries had begun to tamper. 
The Indians not only promised to abandon all negotiations 
with the French, but pledged themselves to make war upon 
that people so long as they should live. An expedition was 
now planned against Canada ; the English colonists wisely 
concluding that the only way to secure the cooperation of 
the savages was to give them active employment. 

On the 22d of June, 1691, Major Philip Schuyler left 
Albany at the head of one hundred and fifty English and 
three hundred Indians, and crossing Lake Champlain by 
the route taken by his brother, Capt. John Schuyler, ap- 
peared unexpectedly befoie Fort Laprairie, which he carried 
by surprise, killing several of its defenders. De Callicres 
then governor of Montreal, hastily collected eight hundred 
troops and crossed the river, when the English retired to 
the woods, where they met and destroyed a small detach- 
ment sent forward to cut oft" their retreat. A short time 
afterwards M. de Vallerennes coming up with a large force, a 



'This was probably a slight work thrown up by Capt. de'Wuim 
at Crown Point the March previous, or one erected at Ticonderoga 
by Capt. Sanders Glen while he was waiting there for the advance 
of Winthrop's army. 

2 Journal of Capt. John Schuyler. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 43 

severe and desperate battle was fought between the two par- 
ties. Schuyler posted his men behind trees, and for an hour 
and a half withstood the fire, and repelled the charges of 
the Canadian troops. In this engagement the loss of the 
English was trifling, while not less than two hundred of the 
French were killed or wounded. Schuyler, fearing to be 
overpowered by superior numbers, now hastily withdrew 
and returned to Albany. 

The favorable result of this expedition gave a new impe- 
tus to the warlike temper of the Iroquois, and strengthened 
their friendship for the English. These Indians for the next 
two years so harrassed the French that de Frontenac de- 
termined again to invade their territory. For this purpose 
he collected a force of six or seven hundred French and In- 
dians, and about the middle of January, 1G93, set out from 
Montreal, for the Mohawk valley. The march upon the 
frozen surface of the lake and through the deep snows of 
the forest was attended with great hardships, yet such was 
the energy of the invaders that early in February they 
passed Schenectady unobserved, and falling suddenly 
upon the first Mohawk village, killed many of the 
inhabitants and took more than three hundred prisoners. 
As soon as the intelligence of this incursion reached 
Albany, Major Schuyler collected a party of about three 
hundred men, principally Indians, and started in pursuit 
of the assailants, who, according to their custom, had 
retreated immediately after the attack. Schuyler con- 
tinued the pursuit as far as the Hudson, and would 
have overtaken the enemy had not a severe storm of snow 
and wind prevented his crossing the river. As it was, 
he succeeded in recapturing about fifty of the prisoners, 
with whom he returned to Albany. The sufi'erings of those 
engaged in this expedition were so great that the Indians fed 



44 LAKE CUAMPLAIN. 

upon the dead bodies of the enemy, and the French were 
compelled to eat their own shoes. i 

Although the contest between the French and English 
continued several years longer, this was the last expedition 
of any importance which entered the valley of Lake Cham- 
plain during this war. The peace of Ryswick, in 1697, was 
soon followed by a formal treaty between the French and 
the Five Nations. 

1 Gordon. 



CHAPTER III. 

Indian Depredations on tlie Frontier-Forts built by the New York Colonists on 
Wood Creek-Two Expeditions organized against Canada-Condition ot the 
Country about Lake Champlain-The French build a Fort at Crown Point 
-French Grants on the Lake-Troubles among the New York Colonists- 
Attempt to settle the Lands lying between the Hudson River and Lake 
Champlain. 

The history of events connected with Lake Champlain 
brings us down to the year 1709. During Queen Anne's 
War° which commenced in 1702, the frontier towns of New 
England were severely scourged by marauding parties from 
Canada. Deerfield was destroyed in 1704 by a party of 
three hundred French and Indians under command of the 
inhuman de Kouville.i In 1708, a party of four hundred 
men, including savages, crossed the almost impracticable 
mountains of Yermout and New Hampshire, and attacked 
the little fort and village of Haverhill, which, after a sharp 
defence, they carried and reduced to ashes. 

These and other repeated and unprovoked aggressions at 
length aroused the British ministry, who, in 1709, at the earn- 
est°solicitation of the colonists, adopted a plan for the con- 
quest of the French possessions in America. This plan 
contemplated an attack by water upon Quebec, whilst fifteen 
hundred men, from New York and the New England prov- 
inces, were to attempt Montreal by the way of Lake Cham- 



1 This expedition followed the route up Lake Champlain to the 
Winooski, and then ascended that river and crossed the mountains 
to the Connecticut. On their return they secreted the bell of 
St. Regis in the sands of Burlington, where it remained until the 
following spring, wlien it was taken to Canada. 



46 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

plain. The inhabitants of New York entered cordially into 
the scheme. They not only furnished their quota of troops, 
hut several volunteer companies were organized to join the 
expedition. The Five Nations, through the exertions of Col. 
Peter Schuyler, were induced to take up the hatchet and to 
send five hundred warriors into the field. New York also 
at her own expense, opened a road from Albany to Lake 
Champlain, which greatly facilitated the movements of the 
troops and the transportation of supplies. 

This road commenced near the present village of Schuy- 
lerville, and ran up the east side of the river to Fort Edward, 
and Ihence by the way of Wood Creek to the head of Lake 
Champlain, leading all the way through a dense forest. 
Along the route three forts were erected ; one oii Wood 
Creek near the present village of Fort Ann, another at the 
commencement of the carrying place between the Hudson 
River and the head of Wood Creek, which was at first 
called Fort Nicholson, and a third on the summit of one 
of the hills opposite Schuylerville. These forts were built 
of timber and were surrounded by palisades so constructed 
as to protect the garrisons from the fire of musketry. One 
hundred bateaux and a large number of canoes were built at 
the mouth of Wood Creek for the transportation of the troops 
across Lake Champlain. All the arrangements for the cam- 
paign being complete, the army left Albany under the com- 
mand of Col. Nicholson and encamped at Fort Ann, where 
they awaited intelligence of the arrival of the expedition 
destined for the attack on Quebec. 

These demonstrations on the part of the English colonists 
created great alarm among the inhabitants of Canada, who 
were but ill-prepared to resist the large force which threat- 
ened both extremes of the colony. M. de Vaudreuil called 
a council of war, under whose advice a force of fifteen Imndred 
men was sent to Lake Champlain to oppose the advance of 



LAKE CEAMPLAm. 47 

Nicholson's armyj but a misunderstanding between the 
governor general and some of his principal oflEicers embar- 
rassed the enterprise, and ultimately caused the army to 
return. 

The two expeditions against Canada proved equally abor- 
tive. The fleet destined for the attack of Quebec was 
sent to Lisbon instead, to support the Portuguese against the 
power of Castile ; while Nicholson's army, discouraged 
by delays and almost decimated by a malignant and fatal 
malady which broke out in the camp,i^ returned to Albany, 
where it was soon afterwards disbanded. 

In 1711 preparations wei'e again made by the colonists 
for the invasion of Canada. Colonel Nicholson, under whom 
served Colonels Schuyler, Whitney and Ingoldeby, mustered 
at Albany a strong force, comprising two thousand English, 
one thousand Germans and one thousand Indians, who, on 
the 28th of August, commenced their march towards Lake 
Champlain, taking the Lake George route, instead of the 
unhealthy one by the way of Wood Creek, which had proved 
so fatal to the troops on the former expedition. At the same 
time an army of six thousand four hundred men, under Brig- 
adier General Hill, sailed from Boston on board of sixty- 
eight transports under convoy of Sir Hovedon Walker, for 
a simultaneous attack on Quebec. '- 

As soon as M. de Vaudreuil received intelligence of these 
movements he hastened to Quebec, and havijig strengthened 
its defences, confided to M. de Boucourt the responsible duty 



1 This sickness is said to have been caused by the Indians, who 
poisoned the waters of the Creelc. But Doctor Fitch in his Sur- 
vey of Washington County questions the truth of this accusation, 
and presumes the malady to have been a malignant dysentery, 
brought on by the troops drinking the stagnant water which flowed 
into the creek from the surrounding marshes. 

2 Gordon. 



48 



LAKE CHAMPLAIJSr. 



of resisting the debarkation of the English troops, and then 
returned to the defence of Montreal. But the plans of the 
invading army were destined to be again defeated. The 
British admiral had neglected the warningsof an experienced 
French navigator named Paradis who accompanied him, 
and approached too near a small island in the narrow and 
dangerous channel of the Traverse. While embarrassed 
amid its rocks, a sullen squall scattered the fleet, driving 
eight of the vessels on the shore, where they were wrecked. ^ 
Charlevoix says nearly three thousand men were drowned, 
whose bodies were afterwards found scattered along the 
banks of the river. After this severe disaster the admiral 
bore away for Cape Breton, and the expedition was aban- 
doned. The advance corps of Nicholson's army had scarcely 
reached the head of Lake George, when intelligence arrived 
of the failure of the northern expedition. Orders were at 
once given for their return to Albany. 

These two attempts upon Canada cost the province of 
New York alone, more than thirty thousand pounds sterling. 
Their failure disheartened the inhabitants, and chilled for a 
time the affections of the Five Nations, who began to look 
upon the English as a weak and cowardly people. The 
situation of the New York colonists was now most critical, 
clouds of adversity lowered darkly over the province. The 
river Indians became restless, and evinced a strong and grow- 
ing disposition to break their allegiance; the Five Nations 
listened favorably to the renewed propositions of peace from 
the French, who threatened an invasion of the province 
by sea and land. Happily these impending evils were 
averted by the treaty of Utrecht, which was concluded 
in the spring of 1713. By this treaty the French king re- 
leased his nominal sovereignty over the Iroquois, and recog- 



iWarbui'ton, vol. I. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 49 

nized their country as subject to the dominion of Great 
Britain. 

As yet no settlement had been permanently established 
in the valley of Lake Champlain. Fort St. Anne, built iu 
1690, had been occupied for a few years ftnd then abandoned. 
The Little Stone Fort mentioned by Schuyler in 1690, was 
a structure of no importance except as it served for the im- 
mediate protection of those by whom it was erected. Fort 
Ann, erected by Colonel Nicholson on Wood Creek iu 1709, 
was burned by him on the return of his army to Albany in 
1711. Kalm saw the remains of the burnt palisades 
when he passed there thirty-eight years afterwards. In 
1713 Fort Saratoga was the nearest post to the lake on the 
south, and Forts Laprairie and Chambly on the north. No 
settlements were commenced within the present limits of 
Vermont until after the erection of Fort Dummer, on the 
Connecticut river, in 1724. 

"VVe have already seen that from the first settlement of 
the country. Lake Champlain had been used as a thorough- 
fare through which predatory excursioiis were directed 
against both the French and English frontiers. Its control 
was therefore a matter of great importance. No movement 
was however made to obtain the command of this important 
avenue until the year 1731, when the Marquis de Bcauhar- 
nois, governor general of Canada, erected a fort at Crown 
Point, which he called St. Frederic,' in honor of Frederic 



^The proposition to erect a fort at Crown Point was submitted 
to the French King in February 1730, who on the 8th May, 1731, 
instructed Messrs. de Beauharnois and Ilocquart to erect a stock- 
ade until a stronger work could be constructed and to make grants 
of lands to such farmers as would settle in that vicinity. This 
stockade was a small work and could accommodate a garrison of 
30 men only. In 1734 a " redoubt a machicoulis " was erected 
sufficient for a garrison of 120 men. The work was subsequently 
7 



50 LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 

Maurepas, the Frencli secretary of state. The English 
claimed the title to the territory on both sides of the lake, 
by virtue of their treaties with the Five Nations, and strong- 
ly remonstrated against, but took no steps to prevent its 
unauthorized occupation by the French. 

Fort St. Frederic, says a celebrated traveler, " is built on 
a rock consisting of black line slates, i and is nearly quad- 
rangular, has high and thick walls, made of the same lime- 
stone, of which there is a quarry about half a mile from the 
fort. On the eastern part of the fort is a high tower, which 
is proof against bomb shells, provided with very thick and 
substantial walls, and well stored with cannon from the 
bottom almost to the very top, and the governor lives in the 
tower. In the terre plaine o^ i\iQ fort is a well built little 
church and houses of stone for the otficers and soldiers. 
There are sharp rocks on all sides towards the land beyond 
cannon shot from the fort, but among them are some which 
are as high as the walls of the fort and very near them. 
"Within one or two musket shots to the cast of the fort is a 
windmill, built of stone, with very thick walls, and most of 
the flour, which is wanted to supply the fort, is ground here. 
This windmill is so constructed as to serve the purpose of a 
redoubt, and at the top of it are five or six small pieces of 
cannon."- Subsequently a trench or wide ditch was dug 
around the fort, on the land side, enclosing the hill referred 
to by Kalm. " This trench," says Captain Eogers, who 
recounoitered the place in 1755, " begins at the south-west 
corner of the fort, and tends south-westerly; about two 
rods wide at the fort, and widens to about fifteen at the 



strengthened and enlarged, and in 1742 was, with the exception of 
Quebec, the strongest work held by the French in Canada. — Paris 
Documents in Colonial History of New York. 

1 Chazy limestone — Emmons. 
2Kalm's Travels, 1749, 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. ^\ 

other end." An enclosure was also erected about twenty- 
five rods north-west of the fort which reached the water's 
edge and surrounded several buildings used for soldiers' 
quarters. 1^ 

Soon after the erection of the fort a settlement was formed 
about it, on both sides of the lake, composed, principally, 
of the families of old soldiers who had been paid off and 
discharged from service. The houses of some of the settlers 
were convenient and comfortable, but the majority lived in 
mere cabins built of boards. To each soldier in service was 
allotted a small piece of ground near the walls of the fort, 
which was cultivated as a garden, and occasionally occupied 
as a summer residence.' 

A small village stood about a half a mile south-west of the 
fort, and one half mile further south was a hamlet, contain- 
ing four houses, surrounded by wheat fields, i 

The boats used by the inhabitants were of three kinds; 
bark canoes, dugouts or canoes made of logs of wood hol- 
lowed out, and bateaux. The last mentioned were construct- 
ed with flat bottoms of oak and sides of pine, and were 
used for the transportation of troops or supplies upon the 
lake. When Kalm visited the fort, in 1749, a yacht or large 
sail vessel made regular trips between that place and St. 
Johns, in Canada.'^ 

Until 1659 St. Frederic was the seat of French power on 
the lake. Here was a rallying point for the fierce Abena- 
quis of the St. Francis, the Arundacks of the fertile Ottawa, 
and the warlike Wyandots of the west — drawn together by 
a common loVe of revenge or the hope of plunder. Here 
the ferocious Outagamis, the restless Algonquin and the 
vindictive Huron met to recount their deeds of barbarity. 



'^ Journal of the Neio Hampshire Scout. 

2Kalm's Travels, 1749. 

3 Kalm says this was the first sail vessel built on the lake. 



52 ' LAKE champlain: 

It was a strange and varied scene often presented at this 
frontier post. At one moment would be heard the vesper 
bell of the little chapel calling the rude but virtuous hus- 
bandman, the scarred veteran of France and the voluble 
Canadian to their evening prayers ; while at the next the 
rocky shore would echo to the loud whoop of the merciless 
savai,e, returning from some successful attack upon the 
neighboring settlements. Long had the English colonists 
cause to regret that want of vigilance and forecast on the 
part of their rulers, which permitted the French to seize 
and retain this controlling position on the lake. 

We have no data by which to ascertain the exact popula- 
tion of the French settlements around St. Frederic : but it 
probably at no time exceeded six or eight hundred, exclusive 
of the garrison at the fort.i The period of the existence 
of these settlements was confined to the twenty-eight years 
of French ascendency on the lake. Prior to 1731, the 
borders of the lake, in every direction, were wild and 
uncultivated ; no buildings stood upon its shores, not an 
acre of its majestic forests had been cleared, nor had its 
fertile soil been touched by the hand of the husbandman. 

^In August, 1747, Col. Johnson wrote Gov. Clinton that one of his 
parties of Indians had just returned from Crown Point, where, 
"they could see very few French and but about forty Indians 
round the fort, having built of logs six little houses for that use, 
which is all that has been done there yet.'''' In 1750 M. de la Galis- 
sonniere, in a memoir on the French colonies, urges the impor- 
tance of settling a French village at Fort St. Frederic. And 
Captain Robert Rogers, who made several reconnoissances to the 
walls of the fort in 1755-6, describes the settlements on the west 
side of the lake as small villages or hamlets, which he burned. 
The settlements about St. Frederic were much exposed, and at the 
time of Kalm's visit in 1749, had been once abandoned; the set- 
tlers being ordered to remove to Canada " or lo settle close to the 
fort and to lie in it at night." They still continued to sleep within 
the enclosure of the fort at the time of Rogers' visit in 1755-0. 



LAKE CHAMPLAi:^. 53 

The governor of Canada did not confine the encroachments 
on Lake Chaniplain to the vicinity of Crown Point, for soon 
after the erection of Fort St. Frederic, he issued grants for 
h^rge tracts of land lying on both sides of the lake, to several 
persons holding office under the French king. The first of 
these grants was made to Sieur Peari, major of the town 
and castle of Quebec, on the 10th day of April, 17o3, and 
embraced a tract " two leagues or two and a half in front, 
by three in depth along the river Chambly and Lake Cham- 
plain, together with the river Chazy included therein and 
Isle a la Motte."^ Two days afterwards another grant was 
issued to Sieur St. Vincent, ensign of foot, for " two leagues 
in front, by three leagues in depth on Lake Champlain,"- and 
another, on the 20th of the same month, to Sieur la Grauch- 
etiere, captain of marines, of " two leagues front by three 
leagues deep on said lake."-^ 

On the 7th of July, 1734, a grant was issued to Sieur 
Contrecour, Jr., ensign of infantry, for a tract of land which 
was described as "beginning at the mouth of the Riciere aux 
Loutres (Otter Creek, Vt.), one league and a half above and 
one league and a half below, making two leagues in front by 
hree in depth, together with so much of said river as is 
found included, with three islets which are in front of said 
concession and depend thfireon." On the 20th of the same 
month, another grant was made to Sieur de Beauvis of lands 
"two leagues in front and three in depth on Lake Champlain 
together with the peninsula which is found to be in front of 
said land."^ In the same month another was issued to 
Sieur de la Periere, "beginning at the mouth of the river 
Ouynouski (Winooski) one league above and one league 
below, making two leagues front by three leagues in depth, 

^Now northern part of the town of Champlain, N. Y. 

2 Remainder of Champlain. 

3 In town of Chazy, N. Y. 

*Now parts of Swauton and Highgate, Vt. 



54 LAKE CHAMPLAm. 

with tte extent of said river which will be found com- 
prehended therein, together with the islands and hattures 
adjacent." Also one to Sieur Douville, on the 8th of 
October, 173G, for lands on the east side of the lake, 
"two leagues front by three leagues deep ; "i and another 
on the loth of June, 1737, to Sieur Robart, king's store- 
keeper at Montreal, " three leagues front by two leagues 
in depth on the west side of Lake Champlain, taking in 
going down one league below the lliver Bouquet, and in 
going up, two and a half above said river." The Island 
of North Hero or Me Longue was granted to Contrecour, 
captain of infantry, and M. Raimbault received a large 
concession north of and adjoining the lands granted to 
M. de la Periere. 

These grants were issued subject to forfeiture in case the 
lands were not settled and improved within a certain time. 
This condition not having been fulfilled, all but the two 
last mentioned were reunited to the king's domains by 
an ordinance of the governor and intendant of Canada 
of the 10th of May, 1741. The grantees gave various 
reasons why their lands had not been settled within the 
prescribed time. Pean could find no farmers to place 
upon his seigniory; St, Vincent had been absent on the 
king's service, and Contrecour had offered very advan- 
tageous inducements to settlers, including a bonus of three 
hundred livres, but without success. Sieur Robart had 
surveyed his lands and had offered every inducement for 
young men to settle upon them. These excuses were not 
satisfactory to the government ofl&cers. They, however, 
declared that patents would be reissued to any who should 
place settlers on the land within one year from that 
time. This was not done; but soon afterwards settlements 



^ In town of Georgia, Vt. 



MAP OF FRENCH GRANTS ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 




References. — A, Sieur Pean.— B, Sienr St. Vincent, Jr. — C, M. de la Gau- 
chetiere.— D, M. Robart.— G, M. Coutrecour, Jr.— H, La Manandiere.— J M 
de la Periere.— K, M. Raimbonlt.— L, M. Douville.— M, M. de Beauvois Jr — 
N, M.Contrecour.— E, Alain ville.— F, Hocquart.— P, Crown Point.— Q Lower 
End ot Lake George. 



56 LAKE CHAMPLAI2i[. 

were formed near the mouth of the Big Chazy River and at 
Windmill Point, i which were occupied for a short time and 
then abandoned. 

The lands originally granted to Pean were, in 1752, con- 
ceded to Sieur Bedon, councilor in the superior council of 
Qusbec, and by him afterwards transferred to M. de Beaujcu, 
who owned a seigniory adjoining on the north. In April, 
1734, and again in 1745, patents of concession were issued 
to Sieur Hocquart, councilor of state and intendant of the 
naval forces at Brest, for a large tract embraced in the pres- 
ent towns of Panton, Addison, and Bridport, Vt., which Hoc- 
quart conveyed to Michael Chartier de Lotbiniere in 1764, 
and in November, 1758, the Marquis de Vaudrcuil, governor 
general of Canada, granted to the same de Lotbiniere the 
seigniory of Alainville, embracing upwards of four leagues 
front by five leagues depth, and lying partly on Lake George 
and partly on Lake Champlain. 

The aggregate of these concessions embraced over eight 
hundred square miles of territory. No permanent settlements 
were made however under any of the grants, except of parts 
of the seigniories of Hocquart and Alainville, in the 
immediate vicinity of Crown Point and Ticonderoga. After 
the conquest of Canada the grantees petitioned for a con- 
firmation of their titles, but this the British government 
refused, at the same time, however^ declaring that the claim- 



1 The first houses I saw after leaving Fort St. Frederic were 
some on the western side of the lake, about ten French miles from 
St. Johns, in which the French lived before <he last war, and which 
they then abandoned. * * * A windmill, built of stone, stands 
on the east side of the lake, on a projecting piece of ground. Some 
Frenchmen lived near to it. From this mill to Fort St. Johns they 
reckon eight French miles. Tlie English, with their Indians, have 
burned the houses here several times, but the mill remained unhurt. 
— Kalm in 1749. 



LAKE CRAMPLAIN. 57 

ants should be entitled to so much of the concessions as 
should be proportionate to the improvements made on them, 
at the rate of fifty acres for every three acres improved, 
provided they took out new grants for the same under the 
seal of the province of New York, subject to the usual 
quit-rents. No new grant to one person was to exceed twenty 
thousand acres, nor did this privilege extend to the grants of 
La Gauchetiere and others, annulled by the ordinance of the 
10th of May, 1741. 

The claimants refused the smaller grants from the pro- 
vince of New York, and declined to pay the required quit-rents. 
They fell back upon the original title of the French king, 
who, they contended, first discovered the country, and had 
held undisturbed possession of it to the year 1758. To this 
the authorities of New York replied, that the country south 
of the St. Lawrence River belonged originally to the Five 
Nations, from whom it passed to the English by virtue of a 
treaty made as early as 1 (i83 ; that the treaty of Utrecht 
recognized the sovereignty of Great Britain over these na- 
tions, and that the possession of the French at Crown Point 
was an encroachment on British soil, which could confer no 
title to the French king. They also referred to an ancient 
grant (1696) to Godfrey Dellius of a large tract along the 
head of the lake, extending upwards of twenty miles to the 
north of Crown Point, as proof that the English had claimed 
the lake to be within tlieir jurisdiction. But the strongest 
position taken against these claims, and which, considering 
the weakness of the French title, induced the British gov- 
ernment to disafiirm them, was the fact that a large portion 
of the lands covered by the French grants was then held by 
old ofiicers and soldiers of the provincial army, under patents 
issued under the seal of the province of New York.i 



^For interesting documents relating to the French Grants on 
Lake Champlain see Documentary History of New York, vol. I. 



58 LAKE CnAMPLAIN. 

New York was the central point of English influence in 
America. It held the keys of Canada and of the great 
western lakes. Within its limits burned the council fire 
of the Six Nations,^ the most powerful confederacy ever 
formed among the Indians, whose sway extended west to 
the Mississippi, and beyond the Ohio on the south. But 
though strong in position, New York was weak in power. 
Its history, from the death of Governor IMontgomery in 
1731, to the close of Mr. Clinton's administration in 1753, 
is one of almost continued distrust and contention between 
the executive and the assembly. In this war of party the 
public business of the province was neglected and the secu- 
rity of the inhabitants disregarded. Occasionally, however, 
the government would awake from its lethargy, and for a 
pioment return to the performance of its legitimate duties. 
During one of these periods of quiet, a plan was projected 
for the settlement of the wilderness between Lake Cham- 
plain and the Hudson River, to serve as a check upon the 
French positions on Lake Champlain. The governor issued 
a proclamation describing in glowing language the beauty 
and fertility of the country, and offering the most liberal 
terms to those who might settle there. 

Seduced by this proclamation, Captain Laughlin Campbell 
came from Scotland in 1737 to examine the land, and was 
so well satisfied with its appearance that he returned to Isla, 
sold his estate and brought over, at his own expense, eighty- 
three protestant families, comprising four hundred and 
twenty-three adults. The governor of New York had pro- 



1 The Tuscaroras joined the Confederacy in 1712. It is of them 
that the fable was narrated tliat Chapelain, in 1619, saved himself 
from their hands, when they were about to scalp him, by speaking 
in his Gaelic mother tongue. Physiognomists pretend to have dis- 
covered in the countenances of the Tuscaroras evidence of a mixed 
race between the ancient Welsh and the American aboriginal tribes. 



LAKE CnAMPLAlN. 59 

mised Campbell a grant of 30,000 acres, free of all cliarge 
except those of survey and the usual quit-rents. But on 
liis arrival, the mercenary officers of government refused to 
fulfill this engagement, unless they were allowed a share in 
the grant. A dispute arising between Campbell and 
the government on this account, in which the assembly 
joined with the emigrants, the negotiations were broken off. 
The emigrants were saved from starvation by enlisting in an 
expedition to Carthagena, while Campbell, broken down in 
spirits and fortune, sought a home elsewhere. 

The colonists soon had reason to regret the folly of 
the government in not securing, at this time, the settlement 
of their northern frontier. The protestant Highlanders, 
brought over by Campbell, were a race of hardy and indus- 
trious people, indued by nature and habit with great power 
of endurance. They would have formed a bulwark against 
the French, who, for twenty years afterwards, retained abso- 
lute control of the lake, and sent out from their stronghold 
at Crown Point, bands of marauders to plunder and devastate 
the frontier settlements. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Sir William Johnson's Expedition ag.ainst Crown Point— Battle of Lake 
George— Tlie French fortify Ticoncleroga— Montcalm attacks the English at 
Lake George— Massacre at Fort William Henry- Defeat of Abercrombie at 
Ticonderoga — English Scouting Parties — Putman in Trouble. 

In the month of April, 1755, the governors of the several 
English colonies met in conference at Alexandria, in Vir- 
ginia, and determined on a plan of military operations, by 
which to repel the encroachments of the French upon the 
northern frontier. The campaign contemplated three sepa- 
rate expeditions ; one under Sir William Johnson against 
Crown Point,' another under Grovernor Shirley, of Massachu- 
setts, against Niagara, while Major General Braddock, the 
commander-in-chief, with a third, was to move upon the 
French fort on the Ohio. 

The expedition against Crown Point was to be composed 
of provincial troops and Indians. But the Six Nations did 
not enter into the scheme with their usual spirit and alacrity. 
They were dissatisfied with the long-continued inaction of 
the English, which contrasted unfavorably with the activity 
and vigilance of the French. Nor had the Indians been 
backward to express their disapprobation. "You are desi- 
rous that we should open our minds and our hearts to you," 
said the celebrated Mohawk sachem, Hendrik, at one of 
their councils, " look at the French : they are men, they 



^Sh" William Jolinsoii's commission bears date the IGtli of Api-il, 
1755, and recites that the troops are placed under his command 
" to be employed in an attempt to erect a strong fortress upon an 
eminence near the French fort at Crown Point, and for removing 
the encroachments of the French on his majesty's land there." 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 61 

are fortifying everywhere ; but, we are ashamed to say it, 
you are like women, bare and open, without fortifications."' 
This difference in the condition of the two countries was 
the natural result of the peculiar character and genius of 
their respective inhabitants. The English colonists were 
bold, intelligent and self-dependent. They understood and 
cherished the principles of self-government. Jealous of 
their rulers, they kept a constant watch upon their conduct, 
refused to vote supplies unless they knew the money would 
be appropriated for the public good, and opposed the erection 
of forts on the frontier, least their guns might be used to 
overawe the people. On the other hand, France kept her 
colonists in a state of dependence upon the mother country. 
They were allowed neither freedom of thought nor action ; 
and thus had they become more loyal and obedient but less 
independent than their English neighbors.- France direct- 
ed forts to be built in the wilderness, and her orders were 
obeyed. England also required forts, but, instead of building 
them, the colonists questioned their necessity, objected to 
the expense and neglected to provide the means necessary 
for their erection. 

The words of the Mohawk sachem were true. When the 
governors met at Alexandria, England had no works of 
defence upon her frontier, while the French were fortified 
at du Quesne, Niagara, Crown Point and Beau-Sejour. But 
notwithstanding their avowed reluctance to support their 



^Documentary History of New York, yo\. II. 

2 "Let us beware liow we allow the establishment of manufactures 
in Canada, she would become proud and mutinous like the English. 
So long as France is a nursery to Canada, let not the Canadians 
be allowed to trade, but kept to their wandering, laborious life with 
the savages, and to their military exercises. They will be less 
wealthy, but more brave and more faithful to us. " — Montcalm to 
M. deBerryer, 1757. 



62 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 



ancient allies, the Six Nations at length renewed their cove- 
nant of friendship, and promised to aid the colonies in the 
approaching struggle. 

Considerable land carriage had to be encountered in pass- 
ing from the Hudson River to Lake Champlain. The 
portage commenced at the Hudson, near the present village 
of Fort Edward, from whence two routes diverged : one 
leading by the way of Fort Ann to the mouth of Wood 
Creek, a distance of twenty-four miles; the other passing 
by the way of Olen's Falls to the head of Lake George, a 
distance of fourteen miles. From the first route a third 
diverged near Fort Ann, which led to the waters of Lake 
Champlain at the head of South Bay. By the aid of boats 
on Wood Creek the portage on the first route was usually 
reduced to from six to ten miles. This portage was called 
the Great Carrying Place, and was selected as the point of 
rendezvous for General Johnson's army, from whence it 
was to move to Lake Champlain. 

Early in July Major General Phinehas Lyman arrived at 
the carrying place with about six hundred New England 
troops, and commenced the erection of a fort, which was 
afterwards called Fort Edward, in honor of Edward, Duke 
of York, the grandson of the English sovereign. Johnson 
reached the camp on the 14th day of August, and found the 
army increased to two thousand eight hundred and fifty men, 
fit for duty. New recruits continued to arrive so that the 
general found himself, by the end of August, at the head of 
three thousand one hundred provincials and two hundred 
and fifty Indians, i By the 3d of September the main army 
had reached the head of Lake George, while a great number 
of teamsters were engaged in dragging six hundred boats from 
the Hudson Kiver to be used for the transportation of troops 
across the lake. At Lake George Johnson halted for the 



1 Johnson to Lt. Gov. De Lancey. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 63 

boats to come up, and to announce the plan of his future 
operations. "I propose," said he, "to go down this lake 
with a part of the army, and take post at the end of it, at a 
pass called Ticonderogue, there to wait the coming up of the 
rest of the army and then attack Crown Point/'^ While the 
Enc^lish commander was thus planning his advance upon 
For't St. Frederic, the French general had left that post and 
was hastening towards South Bay. 

When General Lyman stopped on the banks of the Hud- 
son to await the arrival of the main army, the whole 
available French force on Lake Champlain did not exceed 
eicht hundred men, exclusive of Indians. Early in the sum- 
xn^r, however, the Baron Dieskau, a brave old officer who 
had distinguished himself under the celebrated Marshal 
Saxe, arrived at Quebec, accompanied by several veteran 
re^^iments from France. These troops were immediately 
ordered to Lake Ontario, but Dieskau, hearing that the Eng- 
lish were in motion towards Lake George, changed his route 
and passed rapidly forward towards Crown Point, where he 
arrived about the 1st of August. For the defense of this 
fortress Dieskau brought with him seven hundred regulars, 
sixteen hundred Canadians and seven hundred savages.- _ 

Dieskau left a strong garrison at Fort St. Frederic, 
encamped a portion of his army at Ticonderoga, and with six 
hundred savages, as many Canadians and two hundred reg- 
ular troops, ascended the lake to the head of South Bay 
and after four days march, arrived within four miles of For 
Edward, on the Lake George road. The Indians now refused 
to proceed further in the direction of the fort, but were 
willing to go against the open camp of the English at Lake 
George. The head of the column was therefore turned 
towards the lake. 

i.Jobnson to the Board of Trade. 

•^Bancroft's History of the United States, vol. IV. 



g4 LAKE CUAMPLAIN. 

As soon as the English commander learned that the French 
had left South Bay, he determined with the advice of a 
council of war, to send a strong party to reinforce Fort 
Edward, then guarded by two hundred and fifty New 
Hampshire troops and five companies of the New York reg- 
iment. ^ This reinforcement consisted of one thousand 
provincial troops, under command of Colonel Ephraim Wil- 
liams of Massachusetts,'- and two hundred Indian warriors led 
by Hendrik, the Mohawk sachem. They started from the 
camp about nine o'clock on the nyDrning of the 8th of 
September expecting to find the French at or near Fort 
Edward. When Dieskau learned from his scouts, the 
approach of Williams's party, he extended his line on both 
sides of the road in the form of a half moon, and in this 
order continued slowly and cautiously to advance. Colonel 
Williams, in the mean time, pushed forward with rash 
confidence, and had proceeded about four miles from the lake, 
when he suddenly found himself in the very centre of the 
half circle. At that moment the French opened a fire of 
musketry in front and on both flanks. Thus attacked on all 
sides by an unseen enemy the provincials offered but a slight 
resistance. For a short time the slaughter of the English 
was dreadful. Williams fell dead at the head of his regiment, 
and the brave and faithful Hendrik was mortally wounded ; 
but the troops were withdrawn with great skill and coolness 
by Lieut. Colonel Whitney, who succeeded to the command 
on the death of Williams. 



1 Jolinson to the Governors of the several Colonies. 

2 Before joining Johnson, Colonel Williams made a -will by which 
he bequeathed his property to the town of Williamstown, Massa- 
chusetts, on condition that the money should be used for the 
establishment and maintenance of a free school. This school was 
incorporated as a college in KJ!^, by the name of Williams Col- 
lege. \ " 






LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 65 

Johnson lay at Lake George without intrencliment or de- 
fense of any kind. Aroused by tlie noise of tlie firing, lie 
sent Lieutenant Colonel Cole with a reinforcement of two 
hundred men to the aid of Williams, and hastened to form 
a sort of breastwork with fallen trees, drawing up a few 
pieces of cannon which had been left five hundred yards 
distant from the front. i At ten o'clock the defeated troops 
began to arrive at the camp in large bodies, and at half-past 
ele°ven the French appeared in sight, marching in regular 
order against the centre of the breastwork. 

It had been Dieskau's purpose to rush forward and to 
enter the camp with the fugitives, but the Iroquois (Caugh- 
nawagas) took possession of a rising ground and stood inac- 
tive. At this the Abenakis halted also, and the Canadians 
became intimidated.'^ A few shots from the artillery drove 
them all to the shelter of the neighboring swamps, and left 
the French commander and his handful of veteran troops 
unsupported. As the regulars advanced against the centre 
they suddenly halted for several minutes about one hundred 
and fifty yards from the breastwork, and then again advanced, 
firing by platoons.-^ Finding it impossible to break the 
centre, Dieskau moved to the right and attacked Williams's 
Ruggles's and Titcomb's regiments, where a warm fire was 
kept up for nearly an hour. 

^Review of Military Operations in North America. 

2 Bancroft's History of the ^ United States, vol. IV. Baron Dieskau 
had no confidence in the Iroquois. After his defeat he writes M. 
de Vaudreuil : "I prophesied to you, sir, that the Iroquois would 
play some scurvy trick. It is unfortunate for me that I am such 
a good prophet."— -Paris Boc. 

3'<This halt," says the author of ^ Revieio of Military Operations 
in North America from 1753 to 1756, " was the Baron's chief error, 
for amidst the consternation of the camp, had he followed up the 
retreating detachment, he had easily forced the lines and gained a 

complete victory." 

9 



66 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

About four o'clock in the afternoon the English suddenly 
leaped over the slight breastwork and charged upon the 
assailants, who precipitately retreated, leaving almost all 
the regular troops dead on the field. The Canadians and 
Indians retired, in small parties, to the scene of Williams's 
defeat in the morning, where they were surprised and defeat- 
ed by a party of one hundred and twenty New Hampshire 
and ninety Xew York troops, who, under command of Cap- 
tain Mo Ginnes, had been sent from Fort Edward to reinforce 
the army at Lake George. The loss of the English this day 
was about two hundred and sixteen killed and ninety-six 
wounded ; of the French the loss was much greater.^ Dies- 
kau was found, after the retreat, leaning against the stump 
of a tree, thrice wounded and helpless. Early in the action 
General Johnson received a painful wound in the thigh and 
retired to his tent; the command then devolved on General 
Lyman, who actually fought the battle and was entitled to 
all the glory of the day. Yet Johnson, by this victory, 
became a baronet, and received a gratuity of five thousand 
pounds; while Lyman is not mentioned in the official 
bulletin. 

A rapid movement upon Crown Point would have forced 
the French to evacuate that post, but Johnson did not 
profit by his success. Instead of following up his victory 
by a quick and well directed blow, he wasted the rest of the 
season in building Fort William Henry, a useless pile of 
wooden barracks, surrounded by an embankment and ditch, 
which stood on an elevated spot about three hundred yards 
from the temporary breastwork attacked by Dieskau. 

While the army remained at the head of Lake George, in 
timid inaction. Captain Robert Rogers and Captain Israel 



^ Johnson in his official report of this battle estimates the loss of 
the French at from five to six hundred. Warburton states it as 
a " little short of eight hundred." 



LAKE CHAMPLAm. Q'J 

Putnam, two daring and active officers belonging to the New 
England troops, made repeated demonstrations against the 
French, cut off many of their working parties and obtained 
correct information of all their proceedings. Upon one of 
these occasions Rogers and his men spent the night in the 
trench under Fort St. Frederic, and at another time, sur- 
prised a Frenchman within gun-shot of its walls. ^ 

The season of 1756 passed without any military move- 
ment of importance being made by either party, in the 
vicinity of Lake Champlain. The English completed the 
defenses of Fort William Henry, and at one time contem- 
plated building a fort at the head of South Bay ; but this 
last work was at first delayed and ultimately abandoned. 
On the other hand the French were busily engaged in 
fortifying the peninsula of Ticonderoga. After the defeat 
of Dieskau the remnant of his army sought shelter there, 
where they established a camp and commenced building a 
fort, afterwards called Fort Carillon. During the season of 
1756 upwards of two thousand French were constantly en- 
gaged upon the work. The lake now presented a most 
lively appearance. Canoes, bateaux and schooners were 
constantly passing and repassing between Canada, Crown 
Point and Ticonderoga, transporting troops from point to 
point, or loaded with supplies and ammunition. 

Small scouting parties would occasionally leave Fort 
William Henry and penetrate as far as the French works, to 
gather information and beat up the outposts of the enemy. 



^Journal of the Neiv Hampshire Scout. Eodgers was born in 
Dumbarton, New Hampshire. He was appointed to the command 
of a company of rangers in 1755, and served until the conquest of 
Canada in 1760. He afterwards served in the Cherokee war, and 
took up arms for the king at the time of the revolution. In 1777 
he went to England, where he died. His name is now generally 
spelled Rogers. 



g8 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

On one occasion Capt. Robert Rogers was sent on a scout 
with a party of fifty men and five whale-boats. Rogers 
drew his boats over the mountain into Lake Champlain, and 
passing Ticonderoga in the night, on the morning of the 7th 
of July secreted his party on the east side of the lake, about 
twenty-five miles north of Crown Point. While lying here, 
Rogers counted thirty boats passing towards Canada, and 
about three o'clock in the morning, discovered a schooner of 
thirty-five or forty tons at anchor a short distance below. 
As he was preparing to attack this vessel, two lighters with 
twelve men on board approached the shore, into which his 
party fired, killing three of the Frenchmen and wounding two 
others. The lighters were taken and found loaded with 
wheat, flour, rice, brandy and wine. Destroying all but the 
two last, Rogers hastened back, his men rowing none the 
less stoutly when the prisoners informed them that a party 
of five hundred men were only two leagues below, on their 
way to Crown Point, i 

The campaign of 1757 opened early and briskly on the 
northern frontier. "While the strong ice yet covered the surfiice 
of the lake and the snow lay in heavy drifts along its shores, 
eleven hundred French and four hundred Canada Indians, 
under Yaudreuil and the Chevalier Longueuil, marched from 
Ticonderoga to surprise the garrison of Fort William Henry. 
During the night of the 16th of March the party lay upon 
the snow behind Long Point, and early the next morning, 
appeared suddenly before the fort, expecting to carry it by 
surprise ; but Stark — the same who, twenty years later, was 
ready to make his Molly a widow for the cause of liberty- — 



^Rogers's Journal, Documentary History of N. T. IV, 286. 

*John Stark was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire, on the 
17th of August, 1728. He was appointed captain of a company 
of rangers in 1755, and was with Lord Howe when he was killed 
near Ticonderoga, in July, 1758. At the close of the French war, 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. g9 

was there with his rangers, and the assailants were forced 
back ; not however until they had burned several sloops, a 
large number of bateaux and some store houses which stood 
beyond reach of the guns of the fort. 

Soon after the return of the French, Colonel Parker was 
sent from Fort William Henry with a command of four 
hundred men, to attempt the works at Ticonderoga. The 
detachment crossed the lake in whale-boats and bateaux, but 
before reaching Ticonderoga, were decoyed in an ambuscade, 
and the whole party, with the exception of two ofl&cers and 
seventy men, either killed or taken prisoners. 

The French still urged forward the defenses of Fort Caril- 
lon. Montcalm, brave, sagacious and active, was at Montreal 
preparing to carry out his favorite project of reducing Fort 
William Henry. Everything favored the enterprise. The 
Indians, including many stern warriors of the Six Nations, 
gathered around the little fort of St. Johns on the Richelieu, 
and there danced their war dances beneath the white banner 
of France. Six days afterwards they landed from two hun- 
dred canoes, upon the rock-bound shores of Ticonderoga, 
where they were met by Marin, returning from a foray near 
Fort Edward, his canoes decorated with the bleeding scalps 
of forty-two Englishmen. Six thousand French and Cana- 
dians, and seventeen hundred Indians were now collected at 



he retired with the reputation of a brave and vigilant officer. Im- 
mediately after the battle of Lexington Stark repaired to Cambridge 
where he received a colonel's commission. Feeling aggrieved by 
the promotion of several junior officers, he resigned in 1777, but 
soon afterwards returned to the field in command of a body of New 
England militia, which had been raised to oppose the advance of 
Burgoyne. He commanded the American force at the battle of 
Bennington. It was immediately before that engagement that he 
made the well-known speech to his men, " Boys, those are your 
enemies, the red-coats and tories. We must conquer them, or to 
night Molly Stark will be a widow." 



70 LAKE C'HAMPLAIN. 

Ticonderoga, armed to the teeth, and anxious to be led 
against the enemy. Montcalm needed no persuasion. On 
the last day of July M. de Levy was sent forward by land, 
under the guidance of the Indians, with two thousand five 
hundred men, and Montcalm followed the next day, with 
the main body of the army, in two hundred and fifty boats. 

Gen. Webb, a man of weak, irresolute and timid charac- 
ter, was in command of the provincial troops, and had five 
thousand men with him at Fort Edward, while a body of 
one thousand garrisoned Fort William Henry. It so 
happened that Webb started for Lake George, with an escort 
of two hundred men, under command of Major Putnam, at 
the very time Montcalm was embarking his army at the 
lower end of the lake. On his arrival at the fort, Putnam 
was sent to reconnoitre as far as Ticonderoga, and had pro- 
ceeded part of the way, when he discovered the boats of 
the French moving slowly up the lake. Returning to the 
fort, Putnam informed Webb of the approach and strength 
of the enemy, and urged that the whole army should be 
brought forward immediately to repel their attack ; but 
to this Webb would not consent. Enjoining secresy upon 
Putnam he returned, with dastard haste, to Fort Edward, 
from whence he sent Colonel Monro, with one thousand men, 
to reinforce and take command of the garrison at the lake. 

Montcalm landed about the time of Colonel Monro's 
arrival, and immediately laid siege to the fort, at the same 
time sending proposals for its surrender. " I will defend my 
trust to the last," was the spirited reply of the brave Monro. 
The siege lasted six days, in the course of which the French 
general pushed his advances within musket shot of the fort, 
while a body of over five thousand regulars, Canadians and 
Indians, under de Levy and de la Corne, held the road lead- 
ing to Fort Edward in rear of the English works. Then it 



■■■— ini iiiiMiiiiiii 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 'J-^ 

was that Monro, finding his provisions and ammunition nearly 
exhausted, and having received a letter from his pusillani- 
mous chief declining to send him further assistance, con- 
sented to surrender. By the terms of capitulation the 
English were to march out with their arms and baggage, and 
were to be escorted by a detachment of French troops as 
far as Fort Edward ; the sick and wounded remaining under 
Montcalm's protection until their recovery, when they were 
to be allowed to return to their homes. 

At the time of the capitulation four hundred and fifty- 
nine English occupied the fort, while seventeen hundred and 
fifty were posted in a fortified camp standing on an emi- 
nence to the east, now marked by the ruins of Fort George. 
The troops marched out of the works on the morning of the 
10th of August, and had scarcely passed the gates, when 
they were attacked by a large party of Indians attached to 
the French army. The savages rushed on with the fury 
of demons. Men, women and children were murdered in 
cold blood, and in the most barbarous manner. i The massacre 
continued until the English had proceeded half way to Fort 
Edward, when the scattered and terrified troops were met 
by an escort of five hundred men sent out for their protec- 
tion. The French officers endeavored in vain to arrest the 



1 Major Putnam, who had been sent forward to watch the move- 
ments of Montcalm, thus describesthe awful scene which he beheld 
after the departure of the French from Fort William Henry. " The 
fires were still burning, the smoke and stench offensive and suffo- 
cating. Innumerable fragments, human skulls and bones, and 
carcasses half consumed, were still frying and broiling in the decay- 
ing fires. Dead bodies, mangled with scalping knives and toma- 
hawks in all the wantonness of Indian fierceness and barbarity, 
were every where to be seen. More than one hundred women, 
butchered and shockingly mangled, lay upon the ground, still 
weltering in their gore." 



72 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

terrible onslaught. " Kill me," cried Montcalm, baring his 
breast, "but spare the English who are under my protection." 
The appeal was in vain. The vindictive savages had tasted 
blood, and neither prayers, nor menaces, nor promises availed 
while a victim was to be found, i 

Immediately after the victory the fort was leveled to the 
ground ; the cannon and stores were removed to Ticon- 
dcroga, and the boats and vessels taken to the lower end of 
the lake. Thus closed the military operations of the year. 
The French returned to resume their labor upon the walls 
of Carillon, Webb shrank back to Albany, and the timid 
deer again drank, undisturbed, of the cool waters of the 
silver Horicon. 

The British government decided to press the campaign 
of the succeeding year (1758) with extraordinary vigor. 
Twelve thousand troops were to attempt the reduction of 
Louisburg on the Island of Cape Breton ; sixteen thousand 
were to march against Ticonderoga and Crown Point; and 
eight thousand were to attack Fort du Quesne. The com- 
mand of the troops destined for Lake Champlain was 
entrusted to Major General Abercrombie, who had succeeded 
the imbecile Loudon to the chief command in America. 

On the first of July, six thousand three hundred and 
sixty-seven regulars and nine thousand and twenty-four 
provincials were collected around the decaying ruins of Fort 
William Henry. Four days later the whole armament struck 
their tents, and in nine hundred bateaux and one hundred 
and thirty-five whale-boats embarked on the waters of Lake 
George ; a large number of rafts, armed with artillery and 
loaded with provisions, accompanied the expedition. That 
night the proud host rested for five hours on Sabbath Day 
Point, and early on the morning of the 6th, reached the 
landing at the lower end of the lake. 



1 Bancroft's History of United States, vol. IV ; Conquest of Canada, 
vol. II ; Williams's Hist. Vermont, vol. II. 



A PL^N OF FORT WILLIAM HE-TOY, 1757, 

.M t.e Eugnsh can^p and retrenchment, wit. t.e French canaps and the 

attack thereupon. 




A. Dock. 

B. Garrison Gardens. 

C. Fort William Henry. 

E.- Sclim's^lst Battery of 9 guns 

F Mon'lralra'fM Battery of 10 guns 

and 3 mortars. 
G Montcalm's approaches. 
H Two intended Batteries. 
"■place where Montcalm landed his 

artillery. 



K Montcalm's camp, with the main 
body of the army. 

L M de Lew's camp; 4,0001 Regu- 
' 'lars and Canadians. 

M M de laCorne, with 1500 Cana- 
dians and Indians. 

N En-lish encampment before the 
retrenchment was made. 

O The bridge over the Morass. 

p" The English retrenchment. 



10 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 75 

Fort Carillon, against wliicli the Englisli were now ad- 
vancing, stood near tlie point of tlie peninsula formed by 
the junction of the outlet of Lake George with Lake Cham- 
plain. This peninsula contains about five hundred acres, 
and is surrounded on three sides by water. One half of the 
western or land side was then covered by a swamp. The 
fort was nearly one hundred feet above the water, and stood 
on the south side of the peninsula adjoining the outlet, 
which here expands into a bay of considerable size. On 
the extreme easternmost point of the peninsula, at a short 
distance from the main work, was a strong redoubt of earth 
and stones, which commanded the narrow part of the lake. A 
battery also stood on the bank of the bay, a short distance 
west of the fort, while the low land to the north was cov- 
ered by two batteries, standing behind its walls. The road 
from Lake George to Ticonderoga crossed the river or out- 
let twice, by bridges. Near the lower bridge, and less than 
two miles from the fort, the French had built saw-mills, 
which were defended by a slight military work. They had 
also built a log camp near the landing at the foot of Lake 

George. 

To oppose the powerful army now advancing against 
them, the French had only twenty-eight hundred regulars 
and four hundred and fifty Canadians. But Montcalm was 
not the man to despond. The apparent hopelessness of 
resistance excited him to action. With consummate judg- 
ment he marked out his lines, half a mile west of the fort, 
and pushed the work with such ardor that, in ten hours, a 
wall as many feet high had been thrown up across the high 
ground which lay between the swamp and the bank of the 
outlet. On the 1st of July, three regiments under M. de 
Bourlemaque, occupied the log camp at the foot of the lake, 
while the battalion of La Sarre was posted near the mills. 
When the English first appeared in sight, Bourlemaque fell 



76 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

back upon the mills, leaving Captain de TrepezOe, with three 
hundred men, to watch the approaching column. 

Immediately on landing, Abercrombie, leaving his baggage, 
provisions and artillery in the boats, -formed his men into 
three columns and advanced towards Ticonderoga. The 
route lay through a thick and tangled wood which prevent- 
ed any regular progress, and the troops, misled by the 
bewildered guides, were soon thrown into confusion. While 
thus pressing forward in disorder, the head of the advance 
column, under Lord Howe, fell in with a party of the French 
troops, who had lost their way likewise, and a warm skir- 
mish ensued. At the first fire the gallant Howe fell and 
instantly expired. He was the idol of the army and had 
endeared himself to the men by his affability and virtues. 
Infuriated by the loss of their beloved leader, his men 
rushed forward and swept the French from the field. Aber- 
crombie's bugles now sounded the retreat, and the fatigued 
soldiers returned to the landing place, where they encamped 
for the night. 

Early on the morning of the 7th, Lieutenant Colonel 
Bradstreet moved forward with a strong party and took 
possession of the saw-mills, while Abercrombie again formed 
his men in order of battle, and prepared to advance against 
the French works. But the attack was not made until the 
morning of the 8th, when the whole army was brought up, 
except a small detachment left to guard the boats, and a 
provincial regiment stationed at the saw-mills. Montcalm 
had that morning received a reinforcement of four hundred 
men, under M. de Levy, which increased his force to about 
thirty-six hundred. Behind the newly erected lines, which 
were now strengthened by a wide and difficult abattis, he 
posted the tried battalions of La Heine, La Sarre, Beam, 
Guyenne, Berry, Languedoc and Roussillon, and calmly 
awaited the onset. 



HHB 



PLAN OF ATTACK BY GEN. ABEKCROMBIE, AT TICONDEROGA, 
8th JULY, 1758. 




^^r,sr 



0^ 



^^^c 



^ea 



%- 







^^fo'ap^i 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. '^9 

As the Englisli approached, the raagers, light infantry, 
bateau men, and Ruggles's, Dotey's, Partridge's, Williams's 
and Bagley's regiments of provincials, with a battalion of the 
New York regiment, took post in front, out of cannon-shot 
of the French works. Next came the regulars destined for 
the assault, while the Connecticut and New Jersey troops 
were drawn up in the rear. At one o'clock the English 
bugles sounded the attack, when the regular battalions moved 
forward with quick and steady step — the veteran fifty-fifth 
leading, closely followed by the gallant Colonel Graham, at 
the head of Murray's highlanders. As the columns ap- 
proached, and when the ranks became entangled among the 
logs and ftillen trees which protected the breastwork, Mont- 
calm opened a galling fire of artillery and musketry, which 
mowed down the brave officers and men by hundreds. For 
four hours the English vainly strove to cut their way through 
the impenetrable abattis, until Abercrombie, despairing of 
success, and having already lost one thousand nine hundred 
and forty-four men in killed and wounded, ordered a retreat. 
Montcalm did not pursue. Having refreshed his exhausted 
soldiers, he employed the night in strengthening his lines — 
a useless labor, for the frightened Abercrombie did not stop 
until he reached the head of Lake George, and even then he 
sent his artillery and ammunition to Albany for safety. 1 

Soon after the retreat of the English, Majors Putnam and 
Rogers were sent, with their rangers, towards the head of 
Lake Champlain, to watch the movements of a party of five 
hundred Canadians and Indians, who, it was understood, 
intended to pass up the lake from Ticonderoga, under com- 



1 Abercrombie's dispatch — Conquest of Canada. Bancroft's 
History of the United States. Williams's Vermont, &c. The loss of 
the English on that day was as follows : Regulars, 464 killed, 29 
missing, and 1117 wounded; Provincials, 87 killed, 8 missing, and 
239 wounded ; Montcalm reported his loss at 110 killed, and 248 
wounded. 



go LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

mand of the famous Marin. Rogers, with the main body 
took a position near Wood Creek, about twelve miles from 
its mouth, while Putnam, with thirty-five men, took post on 
the bold, rocky shore of the lake about half a mile north of 
the creek. Near the edge of these rocks he constructed a 
wall of stones, and placed young trees before it in such a 
manner as completely to hide the defense from the water 
below. Learning, four days afterwards, that the enemy 
were approaching, under cover of the night, Putnam called 
, in his sentinels and stationed his men where their fire would 
prove most efi"ective ; commanding them to remain perfectly 
quiet until they received his orders. The canoes advanced 
in solemn silence, and had passed the wall of stone, when 
they became alarmed by a slight noise, caused by one of 
Putnam's men carelessly striking his gun against a stone. 
Crowding together beneath the rocks, a brief consultation 
was held by the party, when the canoes were turned back 
towards Ticonderoga. As they turned, Putnam gave the 
order to fire. This fire was returned from the lake, and 
for a short time the contest was warmly kept up on both 
sides. Great was the carnage among the canoes, which lay 
exposed upon the smooth surface of the water. Marin at 
length withdrew and landed his men a short distance below, 
intending to surround the rangers ; but Putnam was upon 
the alert and immediately withdrew towards Fort Edward. 
While retreating through the thick forest an unexpected 
enemy fired upon the party, and wounded one man. Putnam 
instantly ordered his men to charge, when his voice was 
recognized by the leader of the other party, who cried out, 
'' Hold, we are friends." " Friends or foes," answered Put- 
nam, " you deserve to perish for doing so little execution 
with so fair a shot." The party proved to be a detachment 
sent out to cover his retreat. 

A few days afterwards, Putnam was taken prisoner by 



nm 



LAKE CRAMPLAm. g]_ 

some of the Indians attached to Marin's command. The 
Indians bound Putnam^ to a tree. A young savage then 
amused himself by seeing how near he could tbrow a 
tomahawk to his jnisoner's head without touching it — the 
weapon struck into the tree a number of times, at a hair's 
breadth from the mark. When the Indian had finished 
this novel, but, to one of the parties, not very agreeable 
sport, a Canadian came up, snapped his fusee at Putnam's 
breast, then violently and repeatedly pushed the muzzle 
against his ribs, and finally gave him a severe blow on the 
jaw with the butt end of the gun. Putnam was then 
stripped of his clothes and taken to the place selected for 
their night encampment, where the Indians determined to 
roast him alive. For this purpose they bound him to a tree, 
l>iled dried bushes in a circle around him, and then set fire 
to the pile. At the moment when Putnam began to feel the 
scorching heat, and had resigned himself to the keen agonies 
of certain death, Marin rushed through the crowd, opened a 
way by scattering the burning brands, and unbound the 
victim.'- 



^Israel J'utnam was born at Salem, Massachusetts, Januai-y 7lh, 
1718. He was distinguished for his bravery, enterprise and per- 
severance, and for the most undeviating principles of honor, 
humanity and benevolence. He first joined the provincial army 
in 1755, as captain of a company of rangers, and was rewarded for 
his services in the campaign of 1756 by promotion to the rank of 
major. In 1760 he was a lieutenant colonel, and served under 
Amherst in the conquest of Canada. It was said of him that '■'■he 
dared to leadiohere am/ dared to follow." At the commencement of 
the revolutionary war, Putnam was appointed a major general 
in the American army, where he served with distinction. In 
December, 1770, he was prostrated by a paralytic affection, under 
which he languished until the 19th of May, 1790, when his 
honorable and useful life was brought to a final close. 

- Thacher's Militarrj Journal. 
11 



82 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

This humane officer, having reprimanded the savages in 
severe terms, took Putnam under his own protection and 
delivered him to Montcahn, by whom he was sent to Mont- 
real. Thus, through hardships, privations and blood, were 
the sturdy provincials schooled for the great and heroic 
deeds of the American revolution. 



CHAPTER V. 

General Amherst marches against Ticonderoga and Crown Point -Retreat of 
Z French to Canada-Naval Operations on Lake Champlam- Progress of 
the Settlement of the Country bordering on Lake Champlam prior to the 
Revol^iln-New Hampshire Grants - Dispute -th Tenants of Colonel 
Reed - A new Province projected by Colonel Skene and others. 

Notwitlistanding the great importance attached by the 
provincial and home governments to the control of Lake 
Champlain-the key of Canada -three campaigns, under 
three different generals, had been undertaken without any 
progress towards the attainment of that object. Johnson 
was°inefficient, Webb pusillanimous, and Abercrombie want- 
ing in firmness and military skill. The first halted his army 
toluild a fort when he should have captured one ; the se- 
cond with four thousand men under his immediate command, 
abandoned the brave Monro to the tomahawk of the merciless 
savage; while Abercrombie, by a false move and " the ex- 
tremest fright and consternation," allowed less than four 
thousand men to repel the advance of fifteen thousand troops, 
" the largest and best apportioned army in America." Suc- 
cess however, had attended the British arms in other 
quarters. Louisburg capitulated to General Amherst in 
July, and in November General Forbes was in possession 
of Fort du Quesne. 

Pitt, the Englishsecretary of state, had long desired the 
conquest of Canada. Fully appreciating the skill, bravery 
and activity of Amherst, he appointed him to the chief 
command in America. Amherst entered upon his work 
with zeal. Wolfe was placed in command of one expedition 
destined to the attack of Quebec; Prideaux was sent with 



34 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

another against Niagara, while tlie commander-in-chief led a 
third in person, against the French posts on Lake Champlain. 

Montcalm was indefatigable in his preparations for the 
approaching struggle. Three armed vessels were built to 
command the navigation of Lake Champlain, and the strong 
walls of Carillon again echoed with the noise of workmen. 
Still the French general, sorely pressed on every side, 
feared for the safety of that post. He could spare but few 
troops for its defense, and besides he well knew that its 
batteries were commanded by the controlling summit of 
Mount Defiance. " Had I to besiege Fort Carillon," said 
he the year before, while wondering at the retreat of Aber- 
crombie,"! would ask but six mortars and two pieces of 
artillery."^ Eourlemaque was sent forward to protect the 
fort with three battalions of regulars and a body of Cana- 
dians and Indians, but he received instructions, at the same 
time, to blow up the works on the approach of the English, 
if he judged it expedient, to retire to Isle aux Noix on the 
Richelieu, and there make a strong resistance. 

About the 1st of July, Amherst reached the head of Lake 
George with an army of six thousand men, where he remained 
for a month, waiting for the remainder of the troops to come 
up. On the 21st he embarked with fifty-seven hundred and 
forty-three regulars and five thousand two hundred and 
seventy-nine provincials, and crossing the lake in .four 
columns, landed the next day, near the spot where Aber- 
crombie had disembarked the year before. That night his 
army lay under arms at the saw-mills, while the French held 
their old lines in force. On the night of the 23d, de Eour- 
lemaque withdrew his men, and leaving a party of four hun- 
dred in Fort Carillon to mask his retreat, embarked with 



• Bancroft's History of the United States. 



PLAN OF FORT CAELLLON, 1759. 




A. Stone Battery. 

B. The Fort. 

C. Earth Battery. 

D. Wharf. 

E. Stone houses for naval stores. 

F. Eedouht. 

G. Battery. 



H. Stone houses for provisions. 

I. Lime kihis. 

K. Nine ovens.. 

L. Gardens. 

M. Batteries in the lines. 

N. French lines. 



^MM^OBm 



LAKE CEAMPLAJN. g^ 

the main body for Crown Point. The English grenadiers 
immediately occupied the deserted intrenchments.^ 

During the 24th and the 25th, the French kept up a 
continuous fire upon th'e English camp, which was warmly 
returned. In the meantime, Amherst advanced his ap- 
proaches within six hundred yards of the fort, and was 
preparing to assault the works, when the French, having 
now held their opponents at bay long enough to secure the 
retreat of M. de Bourlemaque, determined to blow up and 
abandon them. Several mines were constructed under the 
walls, and a fuse connected with the powder magazine. At 
ten o'clock on the night of the 26th, they sprung the mine 
and hastily retreated to their boats.- The explosion scattered 
the flames in every direction — breastworks, barracks and 
store-houses were consumed, while the report of the 
bursting guns, following each other in quick succession, 
announced to the retreating French the progress of the 
work of destruction. 

Amherst immediately commenced repairing the fort, the 
stone work of which remained mostly uninjured. He also 
sent forward Major Rogers, with two hundred rangers, to 
examine the position of the French at Crown Point, and to 
seize, and at all hazards hold some strong post near the 
fort. But this haste was useless, for before the rangers 
could reach their post, the French had destroyed the fort, 
burned the surrounding settlements and retreated to Isle 
aux Noix. The glory of St. Frederic was gone.3 



1 "In the centre of these remarkable lines the French had, in 
celebration of the victory of Carillon, erected a lofty cross, which 
still remained ; a deep grave was sunk before it, and on the cross 
was affixed a plate of brass, with this inscription. 

'Pone principes eorum sicut Oreb et Zebec et Zalmanna.' " — 
Warburton, vol. II. 

2 Conquest of Canada, vol. II. 

3 Mr. Lossing [Field Book of the Revolution, I, 120) says Amherst 



gg LAKE CHAMPLAiy. 

On the 4t]i of August, Amlierst reached Crown Point 
with the main army, and immediately traced out the lines 
of a new fort, about two hundred yards west of the old 
French works. This fort, although "never completed, is said 
to have cost the English government more than two millions 
of pounds sterling. The ramparts were about twenty-five 
feet thick and nearly the same in height, and were built of 
solid masonry. The curtains varied in length, from fifty- 
two to one hundred yards, and the whole circuit, measuring 
around the ramparts and including the bastions, was eight 
hundred and fifty-three yards. A broad ditch surrounded 
the work. On the north was a gate, and from the north-east 
bastion a covei'ed way leading to the water. 

"While engaged upon this work, Amherst directed Cap- 
tain Loring, who superintended the naval operations on the 
lake, to build with the greatest dispatch a sloop of sixteen 
guns, a radeau or raft eighty-four feet long, capable of carry- 
ing six large cannon, and a brigantine. These were com- 
pleted by the 11th of October, when the English commander 
embarked his whole army in bateaux and started for Canada. 
Towards the evening of the next day the wind commenced 
blowing a gale, and the general was obliged to anchor his 
bateaux under the west shore of the lake. Captain Loring, 
however, kept at sea with his armed vessels, and at day-light 
in the morning discovered the French about forty-five miles 
down the lake. He immediately gave chase and drove a 
schooner and three sloops under shelter of Valcour Island. 
Two of the sloops were here sunk, while the other was run 



moved " cautiously along Lake Champlain, crossed tlie outlet of 
Lake George, aud appeared before Ticonderoga on the 26tli of 
July." He'also says that "not a gun was fired or a sword cross- 
ed." This is a mistake. Sixteen soldiers were killed or wounded 
by an attack of the French upon the British advance guard on the 
23d. Between the 22d and 2Gth, seventy-seven of the British 
forces were killed or wounded. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. §9 

aground by her crew, wlio escaped into the woods. i The 
schooner got away during the night. 

Amherst, after remaining wind-bound for several days, 
again started for Canada ; but he had scarcely reached Val- 
cour Island, when the autumn winds threatened to swamp 
his vessels. Satisfied that he could accomplish nothing at 
that late and inclement season of the year, he now abandoned 
the enterprise and returned to winter quarters at Crown 
Point, where he arrived on the 21st of October. 

While Amherst was at Crown Point he opened a road 
from that place to Number Four on the Connecticut River, 
and also planned an expedition against the St. Francis In- 
dians, who lived on the east side of the St. Lawrence, near 
Three Rivers. The command of this exjjedition was entrust- 
ed to Major Rogers of the New Hampshire troops, who in 
October, left Crown Point in bateaux with two hundred 
men. This number was afterwards, by an accident, reduced 
to one huudred and forty-two, with whom Rogers proceed- 
ed to Missisco Bay, where he concealed his boats and a 
portion of his provisions, and started by land for the Indian 
village. After reducing the village to ashes, Rogers and 
his men returned to Crown Point by the way of the Con- 
necticut River. 

In August, 1760, Colonel Haviland left Crown Point at the 
head of fifteen hundred regular troops, eighteen hundred 
provincials and some Indians, and on the 16th of that month 
encamped opposite the French post at Isle aux Noix, and 
on the 24th, opened a fire of mortars upon it. Three days 
afterwards, M. de Bougainville, the commandant, withdrew 
from the island, leaving a garrison of only thirty men, who 



1 See Brasier's map of Lake Champlain, where the north end of 
Valcour Island is designated as the place where "the French sunk 
their vessels in 1759." 

12 



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•■*% X. 



g2 LAKE CnAMPLAIN. 

A settlement was begun at tlie lower falls on the Winooski 
River, by Ira Allen and Ptemember Baker, in 1773. i 

These settlements were all on the eastern border of the 
lake. A few improvements had also been commenced on 
the New York side, which were principally confined to the 
grants made by the colony of New York to the officers and 
soldiers who had served in the wars against the French and 
Indians. The most important of these, lying north of Crown 
Point, was at the Bouquet River, where William Grilliland 
had erected a saw-mill, and where several persons, including 
Gilliland, Watson, Scarr, Cross, Blood and McAuley, re- 
sided.2 

William Hay and Henry Cross lived on a tract of land 
granted, in 1765, to Lieutenant Friswell. Hay's house stood 
near the shore of the lake opposite Valcour Island. From 
this house his family watched the progress of the naval en- 
gagement between the American and British fleet, 11th Oct., 
1776, and witnessed Arnold's masterly retreat during the 
following night. Before the revolution, the few inhabitants 
residing at the north end of the lake received their supplies 
from Montreal, which they were in the habit of visiting 
several times in the course of the summer mouths. About 



1 For further information in relation to the first settlement of the 
towns on the eastern border of the lake, see Thompson's Gazetteer of 
Vermont. 

^Mr. Gilliland took posession of his lands on the Bouquet in the 
summer of 17G5, and the same season built a frame house near the 
falls, two miles above the mouth of that river. The saw-mill was 
erected the next year. In 1775, Milltown as it was then called, 
contained from 20 to 30 houses, and was the largest and most 
flourishing settlement on the western borders of the lake. It was 
abandoned during the war of the revolution. 

For a very full andinterestingaccount of the early settlement of 
"Willsborough, Essex County, N. Y., by Mr. Gilliland, the reader ia 
referred to Mr. Watson's Pioneer History of the Champlain Valley. 



mniiiiHy 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 93 

the 1st of June, 1775, Mr. Hay went to Montreal to purchase 
a supply of flour, and was there arrested and thrown into 
prison by order of Greneral Carleton, He remained in 
prison several days, hut was at length liberated at the solicit- 
ation of the merchants of that city. On his return home 
he repaired to Crown Point, and gave information to the 
American commander as to the strength and plans of the 
Indians, which was considered of great importance at the time. 
He also brought the first news of Carleton's efforts to enlist 
the Caughnawagas on the side of the English. For some 
reason he was afterwards suspected of holding communica- 
tion with the enemy, and in July, 1776, while his wife 
and children lay sick of the small pox, was arrested 
and sent to Crown Point, by order of General Sullivan ; 
Cross accompanied him. "These men are suspected of 
being inimical to us and have it in their power to give 
intelligence to the enemy," was the reason assigned for 
their arrest. 

As early as 1763, one John la Frombois, a native of 
Canada, accompanied by two men named Goude and Swarte, 
visited the shores of the lake, and remained a short time in 
the present town of Chazy, Clinton county. La Frombois 
returned to Canada in 1768, and .obtained permission from 
Francis McKay to settle on a tract which McKay pretended 
to claim by virtue of an assignment of the old French grant 
to La Gauchetiere.i Under this license La Frombois took 
possession of what are now lots numbers seventy and seventy- 
two, in Dean's Patent, and built a house on number seventy- 



1 See Chap. III. La Gauchetiere assigned to Estebe, in 174G, who 
sold to de Pontbriant, Bishop of Quebec, iu December, 1757. 
Pontbriant aftei'wards conveyed to°de Montgolfier, Superior of the 
Seminary of St. Sulpice, who in 17G8, released to McKay, as one 
of the heii's at law of the Bishop de Pontbriant. 



94 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

two, where he remained until 1776, when he was driven off 
by the English and his house burned. He returned in 1784, 
after the war, rebuilt his house and remained in possession 
of the lot until his death in 1810. Joseph la Monte (now 
Monty) moved on to a lot near La Frombois, in 1774, which 
he abandoned two years afterwards, and reclaimed after the 
war. His descendants still reside upon the same land. 

After the first visit of La Frombois, but before his actual 
location, Charles de Fredenburgh, a needy German noble- 
man, who, in 1766, had received from the English government 
a warrant for thirty thousand acres of land, lying on the river 
Saranac, moved on to the tract and built a house and saw- 
mill there. De Fredenburgh remained on this tract until 
about the time of the commencement of the revolution, 
when he removed his family to Montreal. He soon after 
returned to protect his property, and had been back but a 
short time, when the house and mill were burned down. 
Fredenburgh disappeared at the same time and was sup- 
posed to have been murdered. The saw-mill stood on a 
fall of the Saranac, two miles above its mouth. 

In 1761, Philip Skene, an English major under half pay, 
who had been with Amherst in 1759, established a large 
colony near the mouth of Wood Creek. In the autumn he 
accompanied an expedition against Havana, and on his re- 
turn, in 1763, found the settlement reduced to fifteen per- 
sons. He immediately set about reestablishing the colony, 
and in 1765 obtained patents for twenty-five thousand acres 
of land lying on and near the creek. Here he built a stone 
mansion forty feet by thirty, and two stories and a half in 
height. In 1770 he erected a large stone building one 
hundred and thirty feet long, which was used for a military 
garrison and depot. He also built at this place a stone forge 
of about the same dimensions as his house, where he com- 
menced the manufacture of iron. This was the first forge 



■iWll l l WI IMMHIMMy i—i 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. \ 95 

erected on the borders of the lake. Skene owned a sloop, 
with which he kept up a regular communication with Cana- 
da, and at his own expense he cut a road through the wil- 
derness as far as Salem, a distance of about thirty miles, 
from which point it was continued by others to Bennington. 
This road was used during the season when the navigation 
on the lake was closed by ice. In 1773, Skenesborough 
contained a population of 379.1 

The causes which had formerly prevented the occupancy 
of the fertile lands of the Champlain Valley were removed 
when the whole country came into the possession of the 
English government, by the conquest of Canada, in 1760. 
But other difficulties almost immediately sprang up to re- 
tard the growth, of this section of country, originating in 
the conflicting claims of the English colonists to the sover- 
eignty of that portion of the valley lying east of the lake. 
The colony of New York claimed jurisdiction as far east as 
the Connecticut River, while New Hampshire asserted her 
right as far west as the shores of the lake, and south of the 
lake, to a line running parallel to and twenty miles east of 
the Hudson River. Both colonies frequently issued grants 
for the same territory, causing much confusion in the land 
titles, and creating great animosity between the rival claim- 
ants. 

Prior to the close of the year 1763, the governor of New 
Hampshire had granted charters to difierent persons for 
fourteen towns lying along and adjoining the east shore of 
the lake, and by similar grants, had asserted the right of 



^See a petition to Governor Tryon, pi'aying that Skenesborough 
might be made the shiretown of Charlotte county. The petition 
is signed by thirty-eight " inhabitants of Crown Point district and 
Ticonderoga." These thirty-eight probably included all the set- 
tlers in the vicinity of those posts, on both sides of the lake. — 
Documentary History of New York, vol. IV. 



96 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

that colony to the wliole territory claimed to be within her 
jurisdiction. On the other side, the colony of New York 
issued grants of land on the lake to eighty-one or more re- 
duced officers, who had served in the French and Indian 
wars ; nearly one-half of which were located on the 'east 
side of the lake. New York had also appropriated a large 
tract, lying between Otter Creek and Mallet's Bay, for the 
disbanded soldiers of those wars. A county had also been 
organized by New York, called Charlotte county, which 
extended, on the north, from Lake Memphremagog to the 
St. Regis River, and stretched south, on both sides of the 
lake, far beyond its southern extremity 3 the county seat was 
fixed at Skenesborough. 

The efforts of New York to extend its jurisdiction to the 
east was met, from the first, by a most decided opposition on 
the part of the people. Conventions were called to devise 
means to protect the New Hampshire claimants in their 
rights, committees of safety were organized, and the law 
officers and land surveyors of New York were driven by 
force from the disputed territory. These disputes were 
generally confined to the southern part of Vermont. Oecasion- 
' ally, however, they extended as far north as the grants upon 
the lakes. 

In 1761, the governor of New Hampshire granted a tract 
of land, lying around '^the lower falls of Otter Creek (Ver- 
gennes), to several persons who settled there, and as early 
as 1769 had erected a saw-mill at the falls. Soon after the 
erection of the mill. Lieutenant Colonel John Reed, who had 
formerly commanded the Forty-second Royal Highland regi- 
ment, and who held a claim to the same land under the 
colony of New York, forcibly drove off the New Hampshire 
settlers, and put about fifteen families, his own tenants, in 
possession. These last extended the settlements and had 
erected several log houses and a grist-mill, when they were 



LAKE CHAMl'LAIN. 97 

in turn driven off by a party of Grreeu Mountain Boys, who 
burned the houses,, destroyed the grist-mill and put the 
New Hampshire claimants again in possession. 

In June_| 1773, Colonel Reed persuaded a number of 
Scotch emigrants who had lately arrived at New York, 
including John Cameron, James Henderson, Donald Mc- 
intosh, John Bardans and Angus McBean, to accompany 
him to Otter Creek for the purpose of retaking possession of 
these lands. On their arrival they found Joshua Hyde and 
several other persons in possession, with whom Reed entered 
into an arrangement by which Hyde and his associates were to 
give up quiet possession of the lands and to allow Reed's 
tenants to retain the same until the dispute as to title should be 
decided by the English government. Colonel Reed paid 
£61, IGs. for the crops and improvements, repaired the grist 
mill, and also purchased a quantity of provisions and some 
cows for the use of his tenants. He then left them and 
returned to New York. 

This arrangement, although made with the consent of the 
New Hampshire claimants, was disappi'oved by the committee 
of safety, who sent Ethan Allen, Setli Warner and Remember 
Baker, with a party of about one hundred Green Mountain 
boys to Otter Creek for the purpose of driving off the 
Scotch occupants. On the 11th of August, Allen's party, 
attended by Hyde — the same person who two months 
before had sold his claim to Colonel Reed — arrived at the 
settlements, drove the Scotch from their dwellings, burned 
the hay and corn and five houses, and then tore down the 
grist-mill, breaking the mill-stones in pieces and throwing 
them over the bank into the creek. Cameron and his 
companions remained at Otter Creek about two weeks longer, 
and then returned to New York. After their departure a 
small block house was erected at the falls, which was 
garrisoned and afterwards used as a protection to the New 
13 



98 LAKE CEAMFLAIN. 

Hampshire claimants. Another block house was soon 
afterwards built near the falls of tbe Winooski River. 

During the controversy between the settlers under the 
New Hampshire grants and the colony of New York, a 
project was started by Major Skene and others to form that 
part of New York, lying east of the Hudson River, into 
a new province. To effect this object, Skene visited Eng- 
land, and in March, 1775, wrote back that he had been 
appointed governor of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, and 
should soon call on the people for an address to show their 
loyalty to the king. During the absence of Skene the 
troubles on the grants had increased to an alarming extent, 
and it is extremely doubtful what would have been the result 
of the contest, had not the commencement of the American 
revolution turned the attention of all parties to the common 
cause of the country. 



CHAPTER VI. 

War of the Revolution — Surprise of Ticonderoga — Arnold at St. Johns — Senti- 
ments of the Canadians — Invasion of Canada— Siege of St. Johns — Deatli 
of General Montgomery at Quebec — Retreat of the Army of Canada. 

" We conjure you by all that is dear, by all that is sacred, 
that you give all assistance possible in forming an army for 
our defense," was the appeal of Massachusetts, while the 
first blood of the revolution yet moistened the field of Lex- 
ington. Every section of the country responded to the call. 
Liberty poles were raised throughout Massachusetts and the 
adjoining provinces, and everywhere the militia took up arms 
and hastened to the scene of action. 

" Putnam was at work in the field when the news came 
that blood had been shed ; he immediately dropped his im- 
plements and started for Cambridge, without waiting to 
change his apparel. Stark was sawing logs, without his 
coat; he shut down the gate of his mill, and commenced 
the journey to Boston in his shirt sleeves." The same spirit 
was displayed throughout the country. Occasionally, how- 
ever, a few persons were found who were inimical to the 
common cause. These were called Tories, and were often 
subjected to the most rigorous discipline. " When a disafiect- 
ed tory renders himself odious," says Doctor Thacher, " he 
is seized by a company of armed men, and conducted to 
the liberty pole, under which he is compelled to sign a recant- 
ation, and give bonds for his future good conduct." 

Upon one occasion a divine of Long Island pronounced? 
from his pulpit, a severe philippic against the Patriots, stig. 
matizing them as rebels, robbers and assassins. Information 
of the high tory chai'acter of the discourse was carried to 



IQQ LAKE CUAMPLAIN. 

Captain Nathaniel Piatt, a most zealous patriot, who com- 
manded a company of Long Island militia. Capt. Piatt im- 
mediately called out his men, seized the minister and carried 
him to the liberty pole, around which the company were formed. 
The minister was there severely reprimanded, and forced to 
walk up and kiss the pole as a punishment for his political 
heresy. On the next sabbath Captain Piatt was at the 
church, to see what eifect his discipline had produced upon 
the man of Grod. The discourse was unexcejDtionable until 
the minister reached the conclusion of his sermon, when 
while portraying the enjoyments of heaven to the true Chris- 
tain, he gave expression to his feelings by turning towards 
the Captain and exclaiming, " there are no rebels in heaven, 
my brethren. — No ! and you will find no Nathaniel Platts 
there, nor any accursed liberty poles to kiss." 

The great body of the clergy, however, were firm and 
zealous patriots, who daily ofi'ered the most fervent prayers 
in behalf of their bleeding and afflicted country. Upon 
one occasion a zealous divine, who had been compelled to 
abandon his congregation in Boston, used the following em- 
phatic language : " Oh ! Lord, if our enemies will fight us, 
let them have fighting enough. If more soldiers are on their 
way hither, sink them, Lord, to the bottom of the sea." 
" Amen," responded his congregatioq, " Yea, Lord, let them 
have fighting enough." 

Among the men brought out by the revolution to meet the 
exigencies of the times, were Ethan Allen and Benedict Ar- 
nold. Arnold, a native of Connecticut, was indued with 
qualities which characterized him, at once, as the best of 
warriors and the meanest of men. In battle he was " the 
bravest among the brave." No enterprise was too daring 
for him to undertake, no obstacle too great for him to sur- 
mount. Whether among the unexplored forests of Maine, 
upon the decks of a little vessel on Lake Champlain, before 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. XOl 

tlie mitskets of a platoon at Danbury, or under the fire of 
Burgoyne's veterans at Bemis's Heights, he was firm, daring 
and unterrified. But in every other respect the man was 
despicable. In early life he had been, by turns, a half-bred 
apothecary, a retailer, a skipper and a jockey, and had 
marked his course by hypocrisy, falsehood and crime. To 
escape the grasp of his creditors, he committed perjury, and 
to relieve himself of pecuniary embarrassments, occasioned 
by a life of extravagance and profligacy, he practised every 
dirty act of peculation, and ultimately aimed a traitor's 
dagger at the bosom of his country. 

Ethan Allen was also a native of Connecticut, and pos- 
sessed all the impetuous daring of Arnold, but without his 
vices. Associated in early life with the pioneers of Ver- 
mont, he soon became one of the leading men in that quar- 
ter, and by his bold, unyielding spirit, repelled the repeated 
attempts of New York to extend her jurisdiction over the 
New Hampshire grants. As a political writer he was clear 
and forcible, but uncultivated ; as a leader, bold and decided 
but often rash; as a man, frank, generous and unassuming. 

Such were the two men who, on the 7tli of May, 1775, 
met at Castleton to lead an expedition to the surprise of Ti- 
conderoga. Allen, turnished with funds by Dean, Wooster 
and Parsons, in behalf of the assembly of Connecticut, had 
collected a band of two hundred and seventy men, all but 
forty-six of whom were his own well tried and faithful Green 
Mountain boys, led by Brown and the cool and cautious 
Warner. Arnold came attended by a single servant, but 
bringing with him a colonel's commission from the commit- 
tee of safety of Massachusetts, authorizing him to raise a 
regiment of four hundred men. As soon as the two leaders 
met, Arnold pompously drew forth his commission and 
claimed the right to lead the expedition, but Allen refused 
to yield the command. The dispute was at length referred 
to a committee of officers, by whom it was decided that 



202 LAKE C'HAMPLAIN. 

Allen should retain the command, while Arnold was to act as 
his assistant. The main body now left Castleton to proceed 
by land to a point opposite Ticonderoga. At the same time, 
Captain Ilerrick was sent against Skenesborough with thirty 
men, with orders to seize the small fort at that place, to take 
the vessels collected there, and meet Allen and transport 
his party across the lake. 

The forts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point had been 
abandoned soon after the conquest of Canada, and were now 
in a ruinous condition. Within the year a garrison had been 
sent there, at the request of the governor of New York, to 
protect the public property, and to secure that section from 
the threatened encroachments of the New Hampshire claim- 
ants. The garrison was, however, small and weak ; Crown 
Point being held by a sergeant and twelve men, while a 
company of only forty-eight men, under command of Cap- 
tain de la Place, was stationed at Ticonderoga. 

Early on the evening of the 9th of May, Allen's party 
reached the shore of the lake opposite Ticonderoga. Herrick 
not having yet arrived from Skenesborough, it became neces- 
sary to procure a supply of boats in the neighborhood in 
order to cross to the fort. This was a work of no small 
difficulty. Douglass, one of the party, was sent to Bridport 
for a scow. A large oar-boat belonging to Major Skene, 
which lay at anchor near by, was decoyed ashore and seized 
by James Wilcox and Joseph Tyler, while several smaller 
boats were procured from other quarters. 

As these boats were not sufficient to ferry the whole party 
at once, it was arranged that Allen and Arnold should first 
cross with eighty-three men, and that the boats should re- 
turn for the rest of the party, who were to remain behind 
under command of Warner.'^ The little band, guided by 



1 The party embarked from the farm next north of Larabee's 
Point, in Shoreham, about three fourths of a mile below the fort. 



H 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. ^Qg 

Nathan Beman, a lad of fifteen years, was soon drawn up 
on the low ground below the fort, where an altercation again 
commenced between the two leaders, each claiming the 
right to lead the advance. Again the subordinate officers 
interfered, and decided that they should go in together — 
Allen on the right hand, and Arnold on the left. As the 
day began to break, it was deemed prudent to make the 
attack without waiting for the arrival of Warner, who had 
not yet crossed the lake with his party. 

Allen now advanced to the front and adressed his men, 
as follows : "Friends and fellow Soldiers — You have, for a 
number of years past, been a scourge and terror to arbitrary 
power. Your valor has been famed abroad and acknow- 
ledged, as appears by the advice and orders to me from the 
general assembly of Connecticut, to surprise and take the 
garrison now before us. I now propose to advance before 
you, and in person conduct you through the wicket gate ; 
for we must this morning either quit our pretensions to valor, 
or possess ourselves of this fortress in a few minutes ; and 
inasmuch as it is a desperate attempt, which none but the 
bravest of men dare undertake, I do not urge it on any con- 
trary to his will. You that will undertake voluntarily, poise 
your firelocks. " "Each man," says Allen, "poised his fire- 
lock. I ordered them to face to the right, and at the head 
of the centre file, marched them immediately to the wicket 
gate."^ 

When they approached, the sentinel snapped his gun, 
and immediately retreated through the covered way, closely 
followed by the assailants, who were thus guided within 
the fort. As the patriots rushed into the parade ground, 



This fai-m is the birth place of the Hon. A. C. Hand, of Elizabeth- 
town, one of the justices of the New York supreme court, and has 
been in the possession of his family since the year 1789. 
1 Allen's Narrative. 



2 0^ r.A A'/; cuA mpla in. 

they fornicJ in the ooiitrc, f'aciiif^ tlic buiTcacks, and gave a 
loud cheer, while Allen ascended a flight of stepH leading 
to the connnandatit's ([uarters, and in a loud voice ordered 
him to ap])ear, or the whole garrison would he Hacriliced. 

In this affair the patriots captured forty-eight men, one 
hundred and twenty ])ieces of cannon, several swivels and 
howitzers, together with a large number of small arms and 
ammunition of every description, and a!s(j a warehouse filled 
witli materials for boat building. Colonel AVariier arrived, 
with the remainder of the party, just after the surrender of 
the fort, and was immediately sent, with one humlrrd men, 
to take possession of Crown ]*oint ; but a strong head-wind 
drove his boats back, and lie returned to Ticonderoga. The 
next morning a inore suc(!cssful attempt was made, and the 
fort at Crown Point was captured without blood-shed. War- 
ner was there met by ('aptaiu Keniember J5aker, who had 
left the small ioil on tlio AV'inooski to join Allen's party, 
and who, on his way up the lake, had intercepted two boats, 
which had been sent from Crown Point to carry intelligence 
of the reduction of Ticonderoga to Ht. Johns and Montreal. 

It will he remembered that when the patriots left Castle- 
ton, Captain Ilerrick was sent with thirty men against 
Skenesborough. Herrick approached the place unobserved, 
and captured young Major Skene, twelve negroes and about 
fifty dependants or toiumts, without firing a gun. He also 
took a large schooner and several small boats belonging to 
Skene, in which hi; embarked his nuMi and prisoners, and 
passing down the lake, joined Allen at TicoMderoga. The 
history of the surprise of Skenesborough is embellished by 
an account of a singular discovery made there by the patri- 
ots. It is said that some of liorrick's nuMi, while searching 
Skene's house, found the dead b(jdy of a female deposited in 
the cellar, where it had been preserved for many years. 
This was the body of Mrs. Skene, the deceased wife of the 
elder Skene, who was then in h]urope, and who was in the 
receipt of an auuuity, which had been devised to his wife 



i.)" • U" w' -. 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 1()5 

" while slie remained above ground." Like a good patriot, 
Herrick crippled the resources of the enemy, by burying the 
body in the garden at the rear of the house. 

In order to accomplish their plans, and to obtain absolute 
control of the lake, it was now only necessary that Allen and 
Arnold should get possession of an armed sloop, of about 
seventy tons, which lay at anchor in the Richelieu River, near 
the fort of St. Johns. After consultation and a dispute be- 
tween the two officers, who were mutually jealous of each 
other, it was agreed that Arnold should fit out and arm the 
schooner which Herrick had captured at Skenesborough, 
and sail for St. Johns, accompanied by Allen, who was to 
take command of several long-boats which lay at Crown 
Point. 

The schooner having been brought to Crown Point, Ar- 
nold embarked on the evening of the 14th of May, with fifty 
men under Captains Brown and Oswald, and on the 17th 
arrived within thirty miles of St. Johns, where his vessel 
was becalmed. Leaving the schooner, he manned two small 
boats with thirty-five men, and started to row down the river. 
At six o'clock the nest morning he arrived at St. Johns, and 
surprised a sergeant and twelve men who garrisoned the 
fort. He also seized the sloop, in which he found seven men 
and two brass six-pounders. From the prisoners he learned 
that the commanding officer of the fort was hourly expected 
to return from Montreal, with a large detachment of troops 
for Ticonderoga, and a number of guns and carriages for the 
sloop. A company of forty men was also momentarily ex- 
pected from Chambly. 

Arnold had at first intended to await the arrival of Allen, 
who had been left far behind by the schooner while crossing the 
lake, but this information induced him to hasten his departure. 
Having destroyed three row-boats he immediately set out on 
his return, taking with him the sloop, four boats loaded with 
stores, and twenty prisoners. The party had proceeded 
about fifteen miles when they met Allen with one hundred 
14 



206 LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 

men, hastening down the river. Arnold informed Allen of 
the expected arrival of troops at St. Johns, and urged him 
to return. But this Allen refused to do, declarius: that he 
should push on to St. Johns, and hold possession of it with 
the men under his command, i 

When Allen reached St. Johns, he learned that the Eng- 
lish troops were within two miles of the fort. He therefore 
crossed to the opposite side of the river, where he encamped 
for the night. Early the next morning the English com- 
menced a fire upon the party, with sis field pieces and two 
hundred small arms. Allen returned this fire for a short 
time, but finding he could make no resistance against the 
superior numbers opposed to him, he hastily reembarked, 
leaving three of his men behind. ^ 

As soon as Arnold reached Crown Point, on his return, he 
fitted up the sloop with six cannon and ten swivels, fixed four 
guns and six swivels on the schooner, and prepared to resist 
an expected attack against that place from Canada. Also 
wrote to the committees of safety of Massachusetts and New 
York, urging them to send forward a large body of men to 
rebuild the fort at Ticonderoga. 

The fortunate issue of the movement against the British 
possessions on Lake Champlain was of the utmost import- 
ance to the cause of the country, as it created a confidence 
among the people in the ultimate success of the struggle, and 
at the same time, placed the colonists in possession of the 
key of Canada, efiectually preventing any sudden attack 
from that quarter. 

The feelings of the Canadians in regard to the approach- 
ing struggle were not known, nor could it yet be determined 
which side of the question they would take. Sir Guy Carle- 
ton, governor of Canada, used every exertion to enlist 
them on the side of the government, while the American 



1 Arnold to Committee of Safety of Massachusetts. 

2 Arnold to General Assembly of Massachusetts. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 207 

congress, on its part, endeavored to conciliate their friend- 
ship, and induce them to make common cause with the colo- 
nists, or at least, to stand neutral during the approaching 
struggle. The efforts of congress were so far successful as 
to secure their neutrality. 

Disappointed in not receiving the cooperation of the 
Canadians, Gen. Carleton next attempted to rally the royalists, 
and for that purpose organized a corps to which he gave the 
name of the Royal Highland Emigrants. He also entered 
into negotiations with the Indians. Towards the last of July, 
Colonel Guy Johnson, superintendent of Indian affairs, 
arrived at Montreal, accompanied by a number of the chiefs 
and warriors of the Six Nations. Here a solemn council 
was held, and the assembled Indians swore, in the presence 
of the governor, to support the cause of the king against 
the colonists. A great number however, who had not 
attended the council, declared they would not intermeddle in 
the dispute, nor would they consent to aid or oppose either 
party. 

The American congress was informed of these attempts 
on the part of General Carleton, to enlist the Canadians and 
Indians on the side of the king. It was also advised that the 
Canadians had refused to enter into the contest; but there 
was no assurance that they would long preserve their neu- 
trality. Carleton had obtained great influence over this class, 
and might ultimately succeed in drawing them over to his 
side. To prevent this, and in the hopes that the hahitans 
might be persuaded to embrace the opportunity to attempt 
the vindication of their political rights, congress determined 
to fit out an expedition for the invasion of Canada. For this 
purpose three thousand New York and New England troops 
were ordered to assemble at Crown Point and Ticonderosa, 
under the command of Major General Schuyler and Brigadier 
General Montgomery, while an expedition was organized to 
march against Quebec, by the way of the Kennebec River. 



108 LAKE CnAMPLAm. 

A large uumber of flat bottomed boats were built at 
Skeuesborougb, Ticonderoga and Crown Point, for the trans- 
portation of the army across the lake, and congress, by 
great exertions, raised the sum of fifty thousand dollars in 
specie, for the support of the army while in Canada. The 
arrangements for the expedition were conducted by General 
Montgomery, while General Schuyler remained at Albany 
to close negotiations for a treaty of peace with the Muhawk 
Indians, over whom he had great influence. 

General Carleton, in the meantime, was actively engaged 
in preparations to oppose the advance of the American 
army. He placed the works at St. Johns in good repair, 
and directed a large vessel to be constructed there, which 
he intended to station near the north' or lower end of the 
lake. 

The American generals deemed it important by an 
immediate movement, to prevent Carleton from getting 
possession of the passage down the Richelieu River. Mont- 
gomery, therefore, on the 4th of September, embarked what 
men he had collected at Crown Point and sailed for Canada, 
leaving orders for the rest of the troops to follow, as soon as 
they should arrive. Schuyler left Albany in great haste, 
and following rapidly, joined Montgomery near Isle la Motte. 
From that place the two generals moved to Isle aux Noix, 
where they issued an address to the Canadians, assuring 
them that the army was not designed to act against their 
country, but was directed only against the British garrisons 
and troops, and exhorting them to join the Americans, in 
order to assert and defend their liberties. Copies of this 
address were distributed by Colonel Allen and Major Brown, 
who were sent among the people of the adjacent country for 
that purpose. 

The army, although not over one thousand strong, now 
moved forward, and soon afterwards landed about one and a 



LAKE CHA2IPLAIN. 109 

half miles above tlie Fort of St. Johns. At this point the 
ground was marshy, and covered with thick woods, through 
which the men had to pass in order to reach the fort. While 
advancing to reconnoitre the works, the left wing was attacked 
by a party of Indians, who killed three and wounded eight 
of the Americans. The Indians were however repulsed 
with some loss. Schuyler then advanced to within sight 
of the fort, where he commenced a breastwork; but finding 
the work strongly fortified and garrisoned, and learning that 
the armed sloop was preparing to sail from St. Johns towards 
his boats, which had been left with only a slight guard, he 
determined to retire to the Isle aux Noix, and there await 
the arrival of the artillery and the rest of the troops, who 
were daily expected. Schuyler fortified Isle aux Noix, and 
to prevent the passage of the sloop into the lake, constructed 
a cTievcmx-de-frise across the channel of the river, which is 
very narrow at that point. As soon as these arrangements 
were completed, he returned to Albany to conclude his 
treaty with the Indians, where he was attacked with a severe 
illness which disabled him from duty. The conduct of the 
Canada expedition then devolved upon General Montgomery, 
who retained the sole command until he fell under the walls 
of Quebec. 

A small detachment of recruits, with a few pieces of 
artillery, having arrived at Isle aux Noix, Montgomery de- 
termined again to push forward and undertake the siege of 
St. Johns. This fort was garrisoned by five or six hundred 
regulars and two hundred Canadians, under Major Preston, 
and was well supplied with stores, ammunition and artillery. 
The American army, on the contrary, was undisciplined and 
disorderly, the artillery was too light, the mortars were 
defective, the ammunition scarce, and the artillerists unprac- 
tised in their duties. Still these difficulties did not abate the 
ardor or zeal of the commanding officer. 



210 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

On the 18th of September, Montgomery led a party of 
five hundred men to the north of the fort, where he met a 
detachment from the garrison, with which he had a slight 
skirmish. Proceeding a little further north, he formed an 
intrenched camp at the junction of the roads leading from 
Montreal and Chambly, and then hastened back to bring up 
his artillery. A few days afterwards the camp was moved 
to higher ground, north-west of the fort, where a breastwork 
was thrown up. 

Although the Americans had now encompassed the fort, 
they could do but little towards a regular siege for the want 
of ammunition and heavy guns to breach the works; but 
fortune soon opened a way through which to supply this 
deficiency. A little below St. Johns, and upon the same 
river, is Fort Chambly, which then contained several pieces 
of cannon, one hundred and twenty-four barrels of gunpow- 
der and a large quantity of military stores and provisions. 
The fort was garrisoned by six officers and eighty-three pri- 
vates. On the 18th of October, a strong detachment of 
Americans and Canadians — many of the latter having by 
this time joined the army — were placed under command 
of Majors Livingston and Brown, and ordered to attack the 
fort. The detachment passed down the river in boats dur- 
ing a dark night, and surprised the fort, which made but a 
feeble resistance. The stores and ammunition were sent to 
Montgomery, who now supplied with the necessary muni- 
tions, pressed the siege of St. Johns with vigor. A strong 
battery of four guns and six mortars was erected within two 
hundred and fifty yards of the fort, and a block-house was 
built on the opposite side of the river, mounting one gun and 
two mortars. 

While Montgomery was thus employed at St. Johns, de- 
tachments of his army were scouring the country between 
the Richelieu and the St. Lawrence. One of these detach- 
ments, numbering about eighty men, under command of 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. HI 

Colonel Etlian Allen, passed througli all the parishes east 
of the Richelieu as far as its mouth. From this point, Al- 
len moved up the east bank of the St. Lawrence to Longue- 
uil, where he crossed the river, and on the morning of the 
25th of September, appeared unexpectedly before the city 
of Montreal. He was there met by General Carleton, and 
his whole party taken prisoners. A few days later, Carleton 
left Montreal with one thousand regulars, Canadians and 
Indians, for the purpose of raising the siege of Fort St. 
Johns. He embarked upon the St. Lawrence and attempted 
to land at Longueuil, but was driven back by Colonel Seth 
Warner, who with three hundred Green Mountain boys, 
lay secreted on the east bank of the river. 

When Montgomery heard of Colonel Warner's success, 
he sent a flag to Major Preston informing him of Carleton's 
repulse, and demanding the immediate surrender of the fort. 
Preston asked for a delay of four days, which was denied, 
and the demand renewed. The next morning (Nov. 3d) 
the whole garrison surrendered as prisoners of war. Among 
the spoils found in the fort were seventeen pieces of brass 
ordnance, two howitzers, seven mortars, twenty-two iron 
cannon and eight hundred stand of arms, with a quantity of 
shot and small shells. The prisoners were treated with 
great kindness, and were conveyed by the way of Ticonde- 
roga, into the interior of New England for safe keeping. 

Montgomery received great praise for the energy and per- 
severance with which he had, for six weeks, urged the siege 
against obstacles of the most difficult and embarrassing char- 
acter. Not only did he lack proper implements and muni- 
tions of war, but his army was composed of young and raw 
troops, unused to the privations of the field, or to military 
restraint. Indeed his camp at times resembled a great 
political assembly. Prompt and implicit obedience to orders 
was unknown. Each man claimed a right to canvass, debate 
and decide upon all the plans and movements of the cam- 



212 LAKE CnAMPLAIN. 

paiga. This insubordination extended through all the 
grades of the army. The colonels would dispute with the 
general, to be themselves opposed by their captains; and 
when these last were convinced, the whole subject must 
again be debated with the rank and file, who claimed an 
equal right of judging for themselves whether the proposed 
plan was expedient. It required the kind temper, patriotic 
zeal and winning eloquence of Montgomery to restrain such 
turbulent and disaffected spirits from acts of open mutiny. 

After the capitulation of Fort St. Johns, Montgomery 
marched against Montreal, and entered that city on the 13th 
of November. He then moved down the St. Lawrence, 
and on the 1st of December arrived at Point aux Trembles, 
about twenty miles above Quebec, where he found Colonel 
Arnold, who with seven hundred and fifty men had crossed 
to the St. Lawrence, through the thick forest and the almost 
impassible mountains of Maine. On the 5th, the united for- 
ces, even yet less in number than the Briti.sh, arrived within 
sight of the walls of Quebec, and at two o'clock on the morn- 
ing of the 81st, advanced to the assault of the city. 

Captains Brown and Livingston, with ninety-four men, were 
directed to lead a feint against the upper town, while Mont- 
gomery was to advance by the way of Cape Diamond, and 
Arnold through St. lloche, to assault the lower town, on 
opposite sides. The morning was cold and stormy ; the snow 
fell fast, and was piled in heavy drifts by a furious north- 
west wind. Cautiously Montgomery led his men in the 
dark from the plains of Abraham to Wolfe's Cove, and along 
the margin of the river to a point under Cape Diamond, 
where the British had erected a strong stockade extending 
from the precipice to the brink of the river. On the approach 
of the Americans, the men posted behind the stockade re- 
treated to a block-house, which stood a short distance to the 
north, and which was pierced with loop-holes for musketry 
and cannon. In the second story of the block-house were 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 113 

some cannon charged witli grape and canister shot, and so 
pointed as to sweep the narrow cartway above. 

As the assailants advanced, and when they were within 
forty paces of the block-house, a single gun loaded with 
grape was discharged, which killed Montgomery, his two 
aids. Captains McPherson and Cheeseman, and every man in 
front except Captain Aaron Burr and a French guide. The 
brave and gallant Montgomery fell into Burr's arms and ex- 
pired. The rest of the party, appalled at the fearful havoc 
and the death of their general, retired in confusion. 

The attack upon the opposite side of the town was equally 
unsuccessful. The detachment passed through St. Roche 
towards a two gun battery, which was captured by Morgan's 
riflemen after an hour's severe struggle. At the commence- 
ment of the attack Arnold received a severe wound in the 
leg, and was carried helpless from the field. Morgan con- 
tinued the fight, until one half of his men were killed and 
the rest were benumbed and helpless from cold, when he sur- 
rendered. 

Montgomery was endeared to the army and to his country, 
by the possession of every noble virtue. With intrepid 
bravery he led his little band of half clothed and undisci- 
plined men under the walls of Quebec, and fell upon a soil 
already hallowed by the blood of a Wolfe and a Montcalm, 
His death was a great public calamity. America acknow- 
ledged his worth and paid public honors to his memory, 
while the eloquence of England's purest statesmen pro- 
claimed his praise upon the floor of the British parliament. 
" Happy would it have been for Arnold," exclaimed a 
celebrated American, i " if instead of being wounded, he 
too had died, since by his subsequent treason at West 
Point, he blasted forever the glory of his gallant conduct 
on that occasion." 

After the death of Montgomery, the remains of the little 



Colonel Trumbull. 

15 



114 LAKE CHAMPLAIA'. 

army retired to a point about three miles up the river, where 
they remained during the winter. On the 1st of May, Gen- 
eral Thomas arrived and took command of the troops which, 
by reinforcements from time to time, now numbered about 
nineteen hundred men. The army was soon afterwards 
increased to three thousand, but the small pox breaking out 
in the ranks with great severity, not over nine hundred 
were fit for duty. General Thomas in a few days retired as 
far as the mouth of the Richelieu, where he was taken down 
with the small pox. He was removed to Chambly, and 
died there on the 2d of June. About the time of Thomas's 
death, General Sullivan arrived in Canada with a reinforce- 
ment of several battalions, and assumed the chief com- 
mand. 

Early in the spring of 1770, the British force in Canada 
was augmented by the arrival from England of thirteen 
thousand men, a large portion of whom were sent into camp 
at Three Rivers. Against this place an unsuccessful attack 
was made, in which General Thompson and two hundred 
men were taken prisoners. Other reverses followed, until 
General Sullivan, finding his numbers greatly diminished 
by sickness, desertion and death^ determined to evacuate 
Canada. He therefore, on the 14th of June, abandoned his 
position at the mouth of the Richelieu, and leisurely moved 
up its banks towards St. Johns. Arnold, who had been pro- 
moted to the rank of brigadier general, and who then com- 
manded at Montreal, withdrew from that city on the 15th, 
and marching across the country, joined Sullivan's division 
at Chambly. 

The American general conducted the retreat in good 
order, and saved all the baggage, artillery and military 
stores, which were dragged up the rapids of the Richelieu 
in boats. The army reached St. Johns towards the last of 
June. The sick were immediately sent to Isle aux Noix, 
Point au Fer and Isle la Motte, when the boats returned 
and took the remainder of the troops to Isle aux Noix. 



LAKE CnAMPLAm. 115 

Here the men fit for duty remained for eight days, waiting 
fur the boats to take the sick to Crown Point and to return. 
It is difficult to conceive a degree of misery greater than 
that suffered by the invalids during their voyage through the 
lake. The boats were leaky and without awnings, and the 
men, lying upon the bottom, were drenched with water, and 
exposed to the burning sun. Their only sustenance was 
raw and rancid pork and hard biscuit or unbaked flour. 
" The sight of so much misery, privation and distress," says 
Doctor Meyrick, " broke my heart, and I wept till I had no 
more power to weep." 

When the boats returned to Isle aux Noix they were load- 
ed with the baggage, while the men were sent by land to 
Point au Per, which had been fortified by order of General 
Sullivan. At that place they found a supply of boats 
awaiting them, in which they embarked, and on the 3d of 
July, reached Crown Point. 

The broken fragments of the army of Canada present- 
ed one of the most distressing sights witnessed during the 
whole war. Of the five thousand two hundred men collect- 
ed at Crown Point, twenty-eight hundred were so sick as to 
require the attentions of the hospital, while those reported 
as "fit for duty," were half naked, emaciated and entirely 
broken down in strength, spirits and discipline. Some few 
lay in tents, others in half built sheds, but by far the greater 
number occupied miserable bush huts, which afi"orded a 
slight shelter from the burning sun, but were no protection 
against the damp and unhealthy night air. Among these 
tents and huts the men were scattered in indiscriminate 
confusion, without regard to comfort or health, or to the dis- 
tinction of companies, regiments or corps. " I found the 
troops totally disorganized by the death or sickness of 
officers," says Colonel Trumbull, "and I can truly say, 
that I did not look into tent or hut in which I did not 
find either a dead or dying man." The troops remained 



CHAPTER YII. 

i-nfi The Americana and British build armed TesseW on Lake Champlain - 
^^■o^sCr-erthel^e-BataeofValcourlsland-Defeatof*^^ 
^°ieet nTa; s;m Kock- Ti.e British occupy Crown Point- Cond^uon of 
the American Army at Ticonderoga. 

The plan of the campaign of 1776, as formed by the 
British ministry, contemplated a separate movement against 
Ticonderoga and New York, and the conjunction of the two 
armies at Albany. General and Lord Howe were sent with 
a lar-e military and naval force against New York, while the 
thirteen thousand troops collected in Canada were placed 
under the command of Sir Guy Carleton, who had under him 
Generals Burgoyne, Phillips, Eraser, Nesbit and Riedese ; 
all men of acknowledged skill and ability. Several vessels 
were built in England, and sent over to be used on Lake 

Champlain. 

During the summer of 1776, the English were busily en- 
gaged in preparing a fleet for the lake service. Seamen, 
shtp carpenters and laborers were collected at St. Johns in 
numbers. The vessels built in England were taken to pieces, 
carried over the rapids of the Richelieu and reconstructed. 
Several other vessels were brought up from the St. Law- 
rence, and a great number of transports were framed and 
launched at St. Johns. The fort at St. Johns was repaired 
and strengthened, and garrisoned with three thousand men ; 
an equal number was stationed at Isle aux Noix. The rest 
of the troops were reserved to man the armed vessels and 
transports, and to form the army of invasion Six hundred 
and ninety-seven seamen were also drafted from the Isis 



118 LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 

and the other ships of war lying at Quebec, and sent for- 
ward to Lake Champlain.i 

While the English were thus engaged, the Americans 
were actively employed at the other extremity of the lake, 
in preparations to repel the threatened invasion. On the 
17th of June, Congress appointed Major General Gates to 
the command at Ticonderoga and Crown Point. Gates 
found those posts in a very reduced condition. The small 
pox was still prevalent among the troops, not a cannon was 
mounted, nor were any preparations made for defense. The 
first efforts of the commander-in-chief were directed to re- 
cruiting the ranks, restoring the men to health, and providing 
them with clothing and necessary accommodations. Those 
sick of the small pox were sent to a general hospital estab- 
lished at the head of Lake George. Reinforcements were 
earnestly solicited from the Eastern states, and requisitions 
made for ship carpenters to be employed at Skenesborough 
in building the hulls of galleys and boats. Crown Point was 
reduced to a mere post of observation, while the most active 
efibrts were made to enlarge and strengthen the defenses at 
Ticonderoga. Mount Independence was carefully examined 
by Colonels "Wayne and Trumbull, who reported that the 
ground was finely adapted for a military post. A portion of 
the troops were ordered to clear away the wood and to en- 
camp upon this eminence. The Pennsylvania regiments, 
the elite of the army, were posted at the French lines, 
which they were ordered to repair ; and the old works were 
strengthened at all jpoints. 

The small fort at Skenesborough was also repaired, and 
that place selected as the point of rendezvous for the ex- 



1 The number of seamen detached for this service was as follows : 
From the Isis, 100 ; Blood, 70 ; Triton, GO ; Garland, 30 ; Canceaux, 
40; Magdelen, Brunswick and Gasper, 18; Treasury and several 
armed brigs, 90; Fell, 30; Charlotte, 9 ; from transports, 214; 
Volunteers, 9; besides 8 officers and 19 petty officers. 



TICONDEKOGA AND ITS DEPENDENCIES, AUGUST. 1770. 
From a plan drawn by Col. John Trnmbull. 




^f&BO^'^ 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 121 

peeted reinforcements. The lake above Ticonderoga soon 
presented a scene of busy activity, as boats were constantly 
passing and repassing, loaded with men, provisions and mu- 
nitions of war. By the month of September an army of from 
eight to ten thousand men had been collected at Ticonderoga. 
Each regiment had its alarm post assigned, to which it was 
ordered to repair at daylight every morning, and every 
means was taken by the officers to bring the whole body to 
a state of high discipline.! 

The superintendence of the construction of the fleet was 
confided to General Arnold, who entered upon the work 
with his characteristic energy, but in its progress, found 
himself surrounded by great and complicated difficulties, oc- 
casioned by want or limited supplies of nearly all the ma- 
terials necessary for boat building, or a naval equipment. 
These embarrassments only excited the men to greater exer- 
tions. By the middle of August Arnold was prepared to 
take the lake with a naval force carrying fifty-five guns and 
seventy-eight swivels, and manned by three hundred and 
ninety-five men. His fleet consisted of the sloop Enterprise, 
Captain Dickson; the schooner Royal Savage, Captain 
Wynkoop; schooner Revenge, Captain Seaman; schooner 
Liberty, Captain Premier; and the gondolas New Haven, 
Providence, Boston, Spitfire, and Philadelphia.^ 

With this force Arnold sailed from Crown Point on the 
20th of August, and cruised between that place and the 
mouth of the Bouquet River until the 2nd of September. 
On the evening of the 2nd he proceeded north as far as 
Schuyler Island, and the next day reached Windmill Point, 

1 Trumbull's Reminiscences of his own Times. 

iThe Enterprise had been captured by Arnold nt St. Johns ; the 
Liberty by Herrick at Skenesborough. The other vessels were 
built at Skenesborough and then taken to Ticonderoga and Crown 
Point, where they received their sails, military stores and equip- 
ments. 

16 



122 LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 

eight miles below Isle la Motte. It was his first intention 
to have gone as far down as Isle aux Tetes, but finding that 
island already occupied by the British, he anchored off Wind- 
mill Point, in aline from shore to shore, and he sent his look- 
out-boats about one mile below, with orders to keep a sharp 
eye upon the movements of the enemy. 

On the morning of the Gth, several boats were sent on shore 
for fascines to fix on the bows and sides of the gondolas, to 
prevent the enemy from boarding, and to protect the 
men from the fire of musketry. One of the boats reached 
the shore before the others, and was attacked by a party 
of Indians who occupied the adjoining woods. Before the 
men could row ofi", three of their number were killed and 
six wounded. Arnold immediately ordered his vessels to 
discharge their broadsides towards the woods, when the In- 
dians precipitately retreated. ^ The same morning the fleet 
was reinforced by the arrival of the galley Lee, of six guns, 
and the gondola Connecticut of three gnns. 

The noise of the firing on the morning of the Gth was dis- 
tinctly heard at Crown Point, fifty miles distant. Lieuten- 
ant Colonel Hartly, the commanding officer there, immedi- 
ately wrote to General Gates, at Ticonderoga, that an eogage- 
ment had undoubtedly taken place between Arnold and the 
enemy. Gates sent the letter, by express, to General Schuyler, 
then at Albany, who ordered out the Ulster and Dutchess 
County, and a portion of the New England, militia. This 
order was revoked on the 18th, when the true account of the 
affair reached Albany. - 

On the night of the 7th, the English sent strong parties 
up the river, and commenced preparations to erect batteries 
on both sides of Arnold's position. This movement induced 
Arnold to retire as far back as the Isle la Motte, where he 



^Arnold to Major General Gates, Sept. 7, 1776. 
^American Archives, fifth series. 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 123 

came to anchor about two o'clock on die afternoon of tlie 
8th. There the fleet remained until the 19th, when it re- 
moved to Bay St. Amand, which lies on the west side of the 
lake, a few miles north of Cumberland Head. As the schoon- 
er Liberty was on her way to this anchorage, she was hailed 
by a Canadian, who came down to the water's edge and re- 
quested to be taken on board. Captain Premier sent a boat to- 
wards the shore, with orders to approach with caution, and 
to keep her swivels pointed and the matches ready to fire in 
case everything was not right. The man on shore waded 
about a rod into the water and stopped, entreating the boat's 
crew to come to him. Finding he could not decoy them into 
shallow water, he made a signal, when about three hundred 
Canadians and Indians, who were secreted in the woods near 
the shore, uncovered and fired into the boat, wounding three 
of the crew. The boat returned the fire with her swivels 
and small arms, and the schooner discharged several broad, 
sides of grape, when the party retreated, having apparently 
sufiered some loss.i 

While Arnold lay at Bay St. Amand he sent two boats to 
sound the channel between Valcour Island and the main 
shore, who reported that they found the anchorage exceed. 
ingly fine and secure. To this harbor the fleet moved on 
the 23d of September. A few days afterwards the galley 
Trumbull, Captain Warner, arrived, and on the 6th of Octo- 
ber, Brigadier General Waterbury came up with the galleys 
Washington, Captain Thacher, and Congress, Captain Ar- 
nold. The entire naval force of the Americans was now col- 
lected at Valcour Island, with the exception of an eight gun 
galley, then receiving her armament at Ticonderoga, and the 
schooner Liberty, which had been sent to Crown Point for 
supplies. The fleet consisted of the sloop Enterprise mount- 
ing ten guns and ten swivels; the schooner Royal Savage 



1 Arnold to Gates, Sept. 21, 177G. 



124 LAKE CRAMPLAIN. 

twelve guns and ten swivels ; the schooner Revenge, eight 
guns and ten swivels ; the galley Lee, six guns and ten swi- 
vels; the galleys Trumbull, Congress and Washington, each 
eight guns and sixteen swivels; and the gondolas New 
Haven, Providence, Boston, Spitfire, Philadelphia, Connecti- 
cut, Jersey and Xew York, each mounting three guns and 
eight swivels. There were therefore fifteen vessels in all, 
mounting eighty-four guns and one hundred and fifty-two 
swivels. The number of men and sailors detached to serve 
on these vessels was eight hundred and eleven, but of this 
number at least one hundred had not yet joined the fleet. 
Arnold trained his men daily at the guns, and used his 
best endeavors to reduce them to the proper discipline. He 
however, complained frequently of their inefiiciency. '• The 
drafts from the regiments at Ticonderoga," he writes Gen- 
eral Gates, " are a miserable set ; indeed the men on board the 
fleet in general ar^ not equal to half their number of good 
men." Again he says, " We have a wretched, motley crew in 
the fleet ; the marines, the refuse of every regiment, and 
the seamen, few of them ever wet with salt water ; and we 
are upwards of one hundred men short of our complement." 
At this time, the British naval force in the Ptichelieu con- 
sisted of the ship Inflexible, Lieutenant Schank,' of eighteen 
guns ; The schooner Maria, Lieutenant Starke, fourteen 
guns; schooner Carleton, Lieutenant Dacres, twelve guns; 
radeau Thunderer, Lieutenant Scott, twelve guns and two 
howitzers; the gondola Loyal Convert, Lieutenant Long- 
craft, seven guns; twenty gun-boats, mounting one gun 
each, and four long-boats, mounting one carriage gun 
each.i The whole force was twenty-nine vessels, mounting 
eighty-nine guns, and manned by six hundred and ninety- 



1 Lettei: of Captain Douglass, of the Isis. The Inflexible, Maria 
and Carleton, were brought from England and reconstructed at 
St. Johns. 



T '» ,. '^ -i 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. J 25 

seven picked seamen, besides a number of soldiers and artil- 
lerists. 

The route taken by vessels passing up tlie lake from 
Canada, lies along and nearly parallel to tbe west shore of 
Grand Isle. Opposite Cumberland Head the lake is two 
miles wide, but as soon as that point is passed, it increases 
in width to five miles, and does not again contract until you 
approach the mouth of the Bouquet. On the western side 
of the lake, about four miles south-west of Cumberland 
Head, and nearly two miles to the right of the track of ves- 
sels sailing directly up the lake, is the island of Valcour, 
which is separated from the main shore by a channel about 
one half mile in width. This channel is deep enough for 
the largest vessels, and is hid from the view of boats sailing 
up the lake, until they have passed some distance south of 
the Island. Midway of this channel, and where it is most 
contracted, Arnold anchored his vessels in a line extending 
from shore to shore. "We are moored," he writes to Gen- 
eral Gates, " in a small bay on the west side of the island, 
as near together as possible, and in such form that few ves- 
sels can attack us at the same time, and those will be exposed 
to the fire of the whole fleet." 

At eight o'clock on Friday morning, October 11th, the 
English were discovered passing Cumberland Head with a 
strong north or north-west wind, and bearing in the direc- 
tion of Crown Point, towards which it was supposed Arnold 
had retired. The fleet at this time was under the command 
of Capt. Thomas Pringle, of the Lord Howe, who made the 
schooner Maria his flag ship.i General Carleton was also on 
board the Maria, but took no command of the fleet. As the 
English appeared in sight, ofi" Cumberland Head, General 
Waterbury went on board the Congress galley, and urged 



1 The fleet was accomparii&d by twenty-four long-boats loaded 
with baggage and provisions, A small party of Indians had been 
placed on board the smaller vessels. 



J26 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

that they should immediately set sail and fight the enemy 
on the retreat in the broad lake ; but Arnold declined, at 
that late hour, to change his plan of defense. 

Capt. Pringle was some distance ahead of Valcour when 
he first discovered the Americans. He immediately changed 
his course towards the island, with a view to engage, but 
found great difiiculty in bringing any of his vessels into 
action. About eleven o'clock, however, the gun boats were 
enabled to sweep to windward and take a position to the 
south of the American fleet, when they opened a fire upon 
the Royal Savage, which, with the galleys, had advanced a 
short distance in front of the line. The British schooner 
, Carleton soon afterwards came to the assistance of the gun- 
boats. The Royal Savage sustained the fire of the British 
vessels for some time, and until her mast was crippled and 
much of her rigging shot away. She then attempted to 
return to the line, but running too far to the leeward, grounded 
near the south-west point of the island, and was abandoned 
by her men, who succeeded in reaching the other boats in 
safety. At night the British boarded the schooner and set 
fire to her.i 

At half past twelve o'clock the Carleton and the gun-boats 
had approached within musket shot of the American line, 
when the action became general, and continued without 
cessation until about five in the afternoon. During the 
engagement Arnold was on board the Congress, Waterbury 
on the Washington, and Colonel Wigglesworth on the 
Trumbull. The Congress and Washington sufiered severely. 
The latter was hulled in several places, her main-mast shot 
through, and her sails torn to pieces. Waterbury fought 



1 Arnold's account of the engagement. The hull of the schooner 
lies on the spot where she was sunk, and her upper timbers can yet 
be seen during low water in the lake. Arnold's papers were on 
board the schooner and were lost. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 127 

bravely on tlie quarter deck of his vessel, and towards the 
close of the action was the only active officer on board, the 
captain and master being severely wounded, and the first 
lieutenant killed. The gondola New York lost all her officers 
except Captain Lee, and the gondola Philadelphia, Captain 
Grant, was so badly injured that she sank about one hour 
after the engagement. Arnold fought the Congress like a 
lion at bay, pointing almost every gun with his own hands, 
and cheering his men with voice and gesture. His vessel 
was hulled twelve times, and received seven shot between 
wind and water; the main-mast was injured in two places, 
the rigging cut to pieces, and many of the men killed and 
wounded. 

On the side of the English, the battle was sustained by 
the gun-boats and the schooner Carleton, and by a party of 
Indians who were landed on the island and main shore, and 
who kept up an incessant fire of musketry during the engage- 
ment. The English vessels suffered considerably. On 
board the Carleton eight men were killed and six wounded. 
Two of the gun-boats were sunk, and one was blown up with 
a number of men on board. i About five o'clock in the 
afternoon, Captain Pringle, who had made several unsuccessful 
attempts to bring his larger vessels into action, called off 
those engaged, and anchored his whole fleet just out of 
reach of the American guns. The Thunderer lay at the 
right of the line, a little south of Garden Island,'- the schooner 
Maria on the left near the main shore, while the Loyal 
Convert and the Inflexible occupied intermediate positions. 
The Carleton and gun-boats were anchored near and among 
the other vessels. By this arrangement, Captain Pringle 



1 Arnold states the loss sustained (by the blowing up of this 
gun-boat) at sixty. — Letter to General Schuyler, Oct. 15. 

2 This is a small island about GOO yards south of Valcour. 



128 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 



hoped to prevent the escape of the American fleet during 
the night. 

MAP OF BATTLE AT VALCOUR ISLAND. 

I 
I 




References.— A, American Fleet drawn across the Channel.— B, British 
Gun-Boats and Schooner Carleton. — C, Anchorage of British Vessels after the 
Battle. — D, Point where the Royal Savage was lost. — E, Cumberland Head. — 
F, Saranac River.— G, Grand Island.- H, Island of North Hero. 

Arnold was well satisfied that he could not succes.sfully 
resist the superior force with which the English were pre- 
pared to attack him on the following morning. His men had 
fought with the most daring bravery and resolution, but he 
had only succeeded in retaining his position by the di- 
rection of the wind, which had prevented the larger vessels 
of the British fleet from joining in the action. Even under 
equally favorable circumstances, he could not resist a re- 
newed attack, for his boats were already badly crippled, sixty 
of his men, including several officers, killed or wounded, 



LAKE GHAMPLAIN. 129 

and nearly three-fourths of each vessel's ammunition spent. 
A council of war was immediately called, when it was de- 
termined that the fleet should retire during the night towards 
Crown Point. 

At seven o'clock in the evening, i Colonel Wigglesworth 
got the Trumbull under way, and bearing around the north 
end of Valcour, directed his course towards the upper end 
of the lake, passing outside of the British line. The Trum- 
bull was soon followed by the Enterprise and Lee, with the 
gondolas ; and about ten o'clock, Waterbury started in. the 
Washington galley, followed by Arnold, in the Congress. 
In this order, with a light at the stern of each vessel, the 
fleet passed to Schuyler Island, about nine miles distant, 
where it arrived early the next morning. On examination, 
Arnold found two of the gondolas too badly injured to repair. 
These he sank near the island, and having fitted up the 
other vessels as well as his limited time and means would 
permit, again set sail for Crown Point. 

While Arnold was repairing his vessels, the British fleet 
weighed anchor and commenced beating up the lake in pur- 
suit; the wind blowing gently from the south. Early on the 
morning of the 13th, the American fleet was off the Bouquet, 
and the English lay a little above Schuyler Island. Arnold 
now had the wind in the south, while the fresh north-east 
wind, blowing in the broader part of the lake, favored 
the English commander, who brought up his leading 
vessels soon after the former had passed Split Rock. On 
this occasion Captain Pringle led in person in the Maria, 
closely followed by the Inflexible and Carleton. The Maria 
and Inflexible at first attacked the Washington galley, which 



1 Arnold's account of the battle. Mr. Cooper, in his Naval His- 
tory, erroneously states that Arnold got under way at 2 o'clock, p. 
M. He also states that the American fleet, on the morning of the 
11th, " was lying off Cumberland Head," and includes in the fleet 
the schooner Liberty, which was then at Crown Point. 

17 



130 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

was too much shattered to keep up with the rest. The gal- 
ley struck after receiving a few shots. The two vessels 
then joined the Carleton, and for several hours' poured an 
incessant fire into the Congress galley, which was briskly 
returned. Arnold kept up a running fight until he arrived 
within ten miles of Crown Point, when he ran the Congress 
and four gondolas into a small bay, in Panton, on the east 
side of the lake, and having removed the small arms, burned 
the vessels to the water's edge.- In this action the Con- 
gress lost her first lieutenant and three men. 

As soon as the boats were consumed, Arnold led his party 
through the woods to Crown Point, where he arrived at four 
o'clock the next morning. The sloop Enterprise, the schoon- 
er Revenge and the galley Trumbull, with one gondola, 
had reached that place the day before, in safety. The galley 
Lee, Captain Davis, was run into a bay on the east side of the 
lake above Split Kock, where she was blown up. The only 
vessels taken by the enemy were the Vv'^ashington galley and 
the gondola Jersey. The loss of the Americans in both 
engagements was between eighty and ninety, including the 
wounded. The English stated their loss in killed and wound- 
ed at forty, but according to the American accounts, it must 
have exceeded one hundred, as at least sixty men were on 
board the gun-boat which was blown up on the 11th. 

Immediately after the action of the 13th, Sir Guy 
Carleton gave orders for his surgeons to treat the wounded 
prisoners with the same care as they did his own men. He 
then directed all the other prisoners to be brought on board 
the ship, where he treated them to a drink of grog, praised 
the bravery of their conduct, regretted that it had not been 



1 Captain Pringle says the action commenced at twelve and 
lasted two hours. Arnold says it continued "for about five 
glasses." 

"^ See Arnold's and Pringle's account of this engagement in Ap- 
pendix. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. \2>1 

displayed in tbe service of their lawful sovereign, and oflfered 
to send them home to their friends, on their giving their 
parole that they would not again bear arms against Great 
Britain until they should be exchanged. On the 14th, Cap- 
tain, afterwards Sir James Craig, accompanied the prisoners 
to Ticonderoga, where he dismissed them on parole. The 
generous manner in which they had been treated filled the 
prisoners with the highest emotions of gratitude, and they 
returned proclaiming the praise of the British general. The 
feelings and sentiments expressed by these men were such, 
that it was not considered safe to allow them to land, or to 
converse with the American troops. They were therefore 
sent forward to Skenesborough the same night, i 

The humanity of G-overnor Carleton's course was somewhat 
tinctured with polfey. He well knew the great dissatisfac- 
tion which had prevailed among the iVmerican troops, and 
with a profound sagacity, that distinguished his whole 
administration, took advantage of every opportunity to direct 
this feeling into a channel favorable to the British cause, and 
to impress upon the minds of the half clothed and destitute 
troops, a high opinion of the generosity, kindnessand liberality 
of their opponents. 

Although the results of the two engagements of the 11th 
and 13th had been so disastrous, yet the Americans gained 
great credit for the obstinacy of their resistance. Even 
the English acknowledged that no man ever manoeuvred 
with more dexterity, fought with more bravery or retreated 
with more firmness, than Arnold did on both of these occa- 
sions. Such gallantry converted the disasters of defeat into 
a species of triumph. Several American officers, however, 
were found ready to censure Arnold, whom they called "our 
evil genius to the north,-" but G-eneral Gates, who under- 



1 Trumbull's Reminiscences of his oivn Times, 

2 General Maxwell to Governor Livingston. 



132 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

stood perfectly all tlic details of the affair, always speaks of 
him in the highest terms of praise. " It would have been 
happy for the United States," he writes to Governor 
Trumbull, " had the gallant behavior and steady good con- 
duct of that excellent officer been supported by a fleet in 
any way equal to the enemy's. As the case stands, though 
they boast a victory, they must respect the vanquished." 

On the l-lth of October the works at Crown Point were 
destroyed and the troops and military stores removed to 
Ticonderoga. As soon as the Americans left, Carleton 
landed his army and occupied the shores on both sides of 
the lake. It had been his intention to march immediately 
against Ticonderoga, but on the 15th the wind commenced 
blowing so hard from the south that, for eight days, the 
English vessels could not sail up the lake?. This delay was 
of great importance to the Americans, as it afforded them 
time to receive reinforcements of militia and to prepare for 
a vigorous defense. In that short interval they made 
carriages for, and mounted forty-seven pieces of cannon ; 
they also surrounded the works with a strong abattis. 
General Gates had about twelve thousand men under his 
command, all of whom were desirous of an opportunity to 
display their prowess before the enemy. 

General Carleton, finding he could not advance immedi- 
ately, proceeded to establish himself at Crown Point, and to 
repair the fort at that place. He also occupied Chimney 
Point with a portion of his army, and placed three of his 
largest vessels at anchor near Putnam's Point, a little below 
which the light infantry, grenadiers, and a body of Cana- 
dians and Indians were encamped. Reconnoitering parties 
filled the woods in every direction, and frequently penetrated 
as far south as Lake George, where one or two slight 
skirmishes occurred with straggling parties of the militia, 
who were passing from Fort George to Ticonderoga. Boats 
were also sent to sound the channel of the lake above Crown 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 133 

Point On one occasion, one of these boats approached 
within shot of the lower battery of Ticonderoga, when it was 
fired into, and two men killedand one wounded. _ 

On Monday, the 27th of October, between eight and nine 
o'clock in the morning, the advance guard-boat lying below 
Ticonderoga, made signal that the English fleet was approach- 
ing, and about an hour afterwards, five of their largest 
transport boats appeared in sight of the fort, and landed a 
number of troops upon Three Mile Point. Soon afterwards 
two armed boats stood over to the east side of the lake and 
appeared to be reconnoitering. As soon as they approached 
near enough, they were fired upon from the lower battery 
and from a row-galley stationed near by, when they retired. 
In the meantime other British troops were landed upon the 
point, and a body of men were sent across the lake into a 
small bay about four miles below the works. 

As these movements indicated an attack upon Ticonderoga, 
General Gates ordered the lines and redoubts to be manned, 
and brought three regiments from Mt. Independence to 
reinforce those on the western side. "Nothing," he says, 
" could exceed the spirit and alertness which was shown by 
all the officers and soldiers in executing every order that 
was -iven." The display made on this occasion convinced 
Carleton that Gates's means of defense were sufficient to 
resist an assault. At four o'clock in the afternoon he 
withdrew his forces and returned to Crown Point, where 
he made immediate preparations to retire into winter quarters, 
in Canada The rear-guard of the English army left 
Crown Point on the morning of the 3d of November, and the 
place was on the same day occupied by a detachment sent for- 
ward from Ticonderoga. As soon as it was ascertained that 
the Eno-lish had retired to Canada, Gates dismissed the militia 
and soon afterwards left with the greater part of the regular 
troops to join Washington, who was then in New Jersey. 



CHAPTER VIIL 

l???— 1783.— Burgoyue invades the Uuited States — Evacuation of Ticoncleroga 
by General St. Clair — Battle of llubbardtou — Surprise and Indignation of the 
People — Vindication of St. Clair and Schuyler — Lincoln's Expedition 
against Ticonderoga— Surrender of Burgoyne — Ketreat to Canada — Opera- 
tions on Lake Champlain from 1783 to 1778. 

The British ministry still adhered to the scheme of opening 
a communication between Canada and the city of New York, 
by way of Lake Champlain. This project had acquired 
new favor at the English court from the representations 
and san;.;uiiie promises of General Burgoyne, who had 
visited England in the winter of 1776-7, and urged upon 
the government its importance, and the certainty of its 
success. Dissatisfied, withoutjust cause, with the proceedings 
of Governor Carletou, the ministry formed their arrange- 
ments for the new campaign without his counsel or advice, 
and assigned to General Burgoyne the command of the 
army in Canada, and the direction of all its operations. 

The regular force allotted to Burgoyne numbered seven 
thousand one hundred and thirteen men, among whom were 
three thousand two hundred and seventeen Brunswick troops, 
commonly known as Hessians. A large and complete train 
of brass artillery was sent to Canada, together with a full 
supply of arms, ammunition and military accoutrements of 
every description. Major General Philips, and Brigadier 
Generals Fraser, Powell and Hamilton served under Bur- 
goyne. The Brunswick troops were commanded by Major 
General Iliedesel and Brigadier General Specht. 

Burgoyne arrrived at Quebec in the month of May, 1777, 
and immediately commenced preparations for the prosecution 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 135 

of the campaign. Two thousand Canadians were employed 
upon the fortifications at Sorel, Chambly, St. Johns and 
Isle aus Noix, and boats were constructed on the Richelieu, 
for the conveyance of the troops and supplies through the 
lake. 

To favor the opperations of the army, Col. St. Leger was 
sent against the American posts on the Mohawk River, with 
a force of about eight hundred men, and a lai-ge body of In- 
dians under Sir John Johnson. St. Leger was to proceed by 
the way of Oswego, and having reduced the posts on that 
route, was to rejoin the main army at x\lbany. 

Early in the month of June, the army left St. Johns in 
boats, and after several delays occasioned by contrary winds, 
reached Cumberland Head, where it halted to await the 
arrival of the ammunition and stores. The naval part of 
the expedition was under the command of Captain Lutwidge, 
and consisted of the armed vessels built during the preced- 
ing year. Seven hundred carts were brought on with the 
army, to be used in transporting baggage and provisions 
across the portages between the lakes and the Hudson River, 
and fifteen hundred Canadian horses were sent by land up 
the west side of the lake under a strong escort. 

As soon as the supplies arrived, Burgoyne left Cumber- 
land Head and advanced as far as the Bouquet River, where 
he again halted. He was there joined by four hundred Iro- 
quois, Algonquin, Abenaquis and Ottawa Indians, to whom 
he gave a war-feast on the 21st of June, at their encamp- 
ment near the falls of the Bouquet. On this occasion he made 
a speech to the assembled Indians, in which he humanely 
endeavored to soften their ferocity and restrain their thirst 
for blood. He spoke of the abused clemency of the king 
towards the colonies, and explained to them that the present 
war was carried on against a country where the faithful were 
intei'mixed with rebels, and traitors with friends. He releas- 
ed them from restraint, but cautioned them not to violate 



236 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

the rules of civilized warfare or disregard the dictates of 
religion and humanity. " Be it our task," he said, " from 
the dictates of our religion, the laws of our warfare, and 
the principles and interest of our policy, to regulate your pas- 
sions when you overbear, to point out where it is nobler to 
spare than to revenge, to discriminate degrees of guilt, to 
suspend the uplifted stroke, to chastise, and not destroy." He 
then called their attention to the rules which they should 
observe during the campaign. " I positively forbid blood- 
shed where you are not opposed in arms. Aged men and 
women, children and prisoners must be held sacred from 
the knife or hatchet, even in the time of actual conflict. 
You shall receive compensation for the prisoners you take, 
but you shall be called to account for the scalps." The 
Indians pledged obedience to his orders, and Burgoyne had 
the credulity to believe them. Little did he understand 
the unappeasable appetite for blood of those by whom these 
fine promises were made. 

While the English were slowly approaching Ticonderoga, 
the Americans were busily engaged in strengthening its de- 
fenses. The northern department, including Albany, Ticon- 
deroga, Fort Stanwix and their dependencies, was now under 
the charge of Major General Schuyler, while the immediate 
command of the works on Lake Champlain was confided to 
Major Grcneral St. Clair, an officer of great military expe- 
rience and reputation. 1 Both generals were advised of the 



1 Arthur St. Clair was a soldier from his youth. At an early age, 
while the independent states were yet British colonies, he entered 
the Royal American army, and was commissioned as an ensign. He 
was actively engaged, during the French war, in the army of Gen- 
eral Wolfe, and was carrying a pair of colors in the battle in which 
that celebrated commander was slain, on the Plains of Abraham. 
He was highly esteemed by the distinguished commanders under 
whom he served, as a young officer of merit, capable of obtaining 
a high grade of military reputation.. After the peace of '63, he 
sold out and entered into trade, for which the generosity of his 



LAKE CRAMPLAiy. \^*J 

plans of the Bvitisli government for the present campaign, 
and used every exertion to prevent its success. The old 
French lines, to the west of the fort, had been repaired and 
were guarded by a strong block-house ; an outpost was estab- 
lished at the saw-mills on the falls of the outlet, and another 
just above that point, and a block-house and hospital were 
erected at the foot of Lake George. Redoubts and batteries 
were established upon the low lands below the fort, and the 
extreme left was protected by a small fort on Mount Hope, 
an eminence about half a mile in advance of the old French 
lines. 

A star-fort, in the centre of which was a convenient 
square of barracks, had been built on the summit of Mount 
Independence, which was well supplied with artillery, 
strongly picketed, and its approaches guarded with batteries. 
The foot of the hill, towards the lake, was protected by a 
breastwork which had been strengthened by an abattis, and 
by a strong battery standing on the shore of the lake near 
the mouth of East Creek. A floating bridge connected the 
works of Mount Independence and Ticonderoga, and served 
as an obstruction to the passage of vessels up the lake. 
This bridge was supported on twenty-two sunken piers, form- 
ed of very large timber; the spaces between tbe piers were 
filled with floats, each about fifty feet long and twelve feet 
wide, strongly fastened together with iron chains and rivets. 
A boom made of large pieces of timber, well secured together 



nature utterly disqualified him : he soon became disgusted with a 
profitless pursuit, and having married, aftei": several vicissitudes of 
fortune, he locatedhimself in Ligonier valley, west of the Alleghany 
mountains, and near the old route from Philadelphia. In this 
situation the American revolution found him, surrounded by a 
rising family, in the enjoyment of ease and independence, with 
the fairest prospects of affluent fortune, the foundation of Avhich 
had been already established by his intelligence, industry and 
enterprise. 

18 



238 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

by riveted bolts, was placed on the north side of the bridge, 
and by the side of this was a double iron chain, the links of 
which were one and a half inches square.^ 

Opposite Mount Independence is the lofty eminence of 
Mount Defiance, which rises abruptly from the water to the 
height of about seven hundred and fifty feet, and is separated 
from Ticonderoga by the mouth of the outlet of Lake 
George. The American works formed an extensive cres- 
cent, of which this eminence was the centre. The entire 
lines required at least ten thousand men and one hundred 
pieces of artillery, for its defense. But at the time of 
Burgoyne's approach, St. Clair's whole force did not exceed 
two thousand five hundred and fifty-six continental troops 
and nine hundred militia ; the latter badly equipped, worse 
armed, and most of them raw and undisciplined. They 
however, were zealous and determined, and were ready to 
oppose any force that might be brought against them. 

The works about Ticonderoga were, by many, considered 
impregnable; but in fact they were weak and untenable, for 
every position, whether at the old French lines, at the fort 
or on Mount Independence, was commanded by the sum- 
mit of Mount Defiance, which had hitherto been neglect- 
ed by the engineers of all parties. In 1776, Colonel John 
Trumbull, adjutant general under Gates, made several ex- 
periments which proved the controlling position of the emi- 
nence, and he afterwards, in company with General Arnold, 
Colonel Wayne and others, ascended its rocky sides. "The 
ascent " says Trumbull, " was difficult and laborious, but 
not impracticable, and when we looked down upon the outlet 
of Lake George, it was obvious to all that there could be no 
difficulty in driving up a loaded carriage. 

While Ticonderoga was thus poorly garrisoned and its 
defenses exposed, Burgoyne was moving against it at the 



■ Thacher's Military Journal. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 139 

head of a well disciplined army, numbering seven thousand 
nine hundred men. On the 30th of June, the whole force 
reached Crown Point, where the English general halted to 
issue a proclamation, by which he expected to intimidate 
the patriots and to strengthen the hopes of the disaffected. 
In this paper he extolled the strength and number of the 
British forces, and portrayed, in vivid language, the horrors 
which would result from an opposition to their arms. He 
offered encouragement and employment to those who should 
assist the king in redeeming the colonies, and restoring to 
them " the blessings of British liberty," while against those 
who should disregard his offers of mercy and forgiveness, he 
threatened the merciless vengeance of the whole Indian 
force under his command. Of the patriots, he says, " The 
messengers of justice and of wrath await them in the field; 
and devastation, and famine, and every concomitant horror 
that a reluctant but indispensable prosecution of military 
duty must occasion, will bar the way to their return." These 
thundering anathemas were received, in every quarter, with 
derision and ridicule. Their only effect was to call forth a 
reply, written by a young officer, which created much amuse- 
ment in the ranks of the American army, by its admirable 
imitation of the pompous style of the proclamation. 

Burgoyne's army moved from Crown Point on the 1st of 
July, in three divisions ; the Germans under Riedesel, tak- 
ing position on the east shore of the lake, at Richardson's 
opposite Putnam Creek; the right wing under Fraser, 
advanced as far as Three Mile Creek; and the centre, com- 
manded by Burgoyne in person, moved up the lake in 
transports, accompanied by the ships Royal George and In- 
flexible, and anchored in a position just out of reach of the 
American guns. The following day, a party of Indians 
approached the outposts at Lake George, and were soon 
followed by a large detachment under Major General Phil- 
lips. On the approach of this column, the Americans evacu- 



^40 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

ated and burned the block-liouses, and abandoning the saw- 
mills, retired within the lines. In the course of the night 
General Phillips took possession of Mount Hope, which the 
next morning was occupied in force by Fraser's corps, 
consisting of the 1st British brigade and two brigades of 
artillery. Phillips now held the ground west of Mount 
Hope, and Eraser's camp at Three Mile Creek was occu- 
pied by a body of men drawn from the opposite side of the 
lake. The column under Riedesel was pushed forward as 
far as East Creek, from which it could easily stretch behind 
Mount Independence. 

During all these movements the American troops kept up 
a warm fire against Mount Hope, and against Riedesel's 
column, but without effect. On the 4th, the British were 
employed in bringing up their artillery, tents, baggage and 
provisions, while the Americans, at intervals, continued the 
cannonade. The same evening the radeau Thunderer arrived 
from Crown Point with the battering train. 

The British line now encircled the American works on the 
north, east and west. The possession of Mount Defiance 
would complete the investment, and effectually control the 
water communication in the direction of Skenesborough. 
Burgoyne's attention had, from the first, been attracted to- 
wards this eminence, and he had directed Lieut. Twiss, his 
chief engineer, to ascertain whether its summit was accessi- 
ble. On the 4th, Lieutenant Twiss reported that Mount 
Defiance held the entire command of Ticouderoga and Mt. 
Independence, at the distance of about fourteen hundred 
yards from the former, and fifteen hundred yards from the 
latter, and that a practicable road could be made to the sum- 
mit in twenty-four hours. On receiving this report, Bur- 
goyne ordered the road to bo opened and a battery constructed 
for light twenty-four pounders, medium twelves and eight- 
inch howitzers. This arduous task was pushed with such 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 141 

activity, that during the succeeding night, the road was com- 
pleted, and eight pieces of cannon were dragged to the top 
of the hill. 

On the morning of the 5th, the summit of Mount Defiance 
glowed with scarlet uniforms, and the guns of its batteries 
stood threateningly over the American forts. "It is with as- 
tonishment," says Doctor Thacher in his MiUtari/ Journal, 
"that we find the enemy have taken possession of an emi- 
nence called Sugar-loaf Hill or Mount Defiance, which, from 
its height and proximity, completely overlooks and commands 
all our works. The situation of our garrison is viewed as 
critical and alarming; a few days will decide our fate. We 
have reason to apprehend the most fatal eflects from their 
battery on Sugar-loaf Hill." General St. Clair immediately 
called a council of war, by whom it was decided to evacuate 
the works, before Riedesel should block up the narrow 
passage south of East Creek, which with the lake to Skenes- 
borough presented the only possible way of escape. 

The decision of the council was concealed from the troops 
until the evening order was given. About twelve o'clock 
at night, directions were issued to place the sick and wound- 
ed and the women on board two hundred long-boats, which 
had been collected for this purpose. The boats were then 
loaded deep with cannon, tents and provisions, and at three 
o'clock in the morning started for Skenesborough, accom- 
paAied by five armed galleys and a guard of sis hundred 
men, under command of Colonel Long, of the New Hamp- 
shire troops. The boats reached Skenesborough about three 
o'clock on the afternoon of the same day, where the fugitives 
landed to enjoy, as they fancied, a temporary repose; but in 
less than two hours they were startled by the reports of the 
cannon of the British gun-boats, which were firing at the 
galleys lying at the wharf. By uncommon eifort and indus- 
try, Burgoyne had broken through the chain, boom and 
bridge at Ticonderoga, and had followed in pursuit with the 



1^2 LAKE CUAMPLAIN. 

Royal George and Inflexible, and a detachment of the gun- 
boats under Captain Carter. The pursuit had been pressed 
with such vigor that, at the very moment when the Ameri- 
cans were landing at Skenesborough, three regiments disem- 
barked at the head of South Bay, with the intention of 
occupying the road to Fort Edward. Had Burgoyne delayed 
the attack upon the galleys until these regiments had reached 
the Fort Edward road, the whole party at Skenesborough 
would have been taken prisoners. Alarmed however, by the 
approach of the gun-boats, the Americans blew up three of 
the galleys, set fire to the fort, mill and store-house, and 
retired in great confusion towards Fort Ann. Occasionally 
the overburdened party would falter on their retreat, when 
the startling cry of " March on, the Indians are at our heels," 
would revive their drooping energies, and give new strength 
to their weakened limbs. At five o'clock in the morning 
they reached Fort Ann, where they were joined by many erf 
the invalids who had been carried up Wood Creek in boats. 
A number of the sick, with the cannon, provisions and most 
of the baggage were left behind at Skenesborough. 

On the 7th, a small reinforcement sent from Fort Edward 
by Schuyler, arrived at Fort Ann. About the same time a 
detachment of British troops approached within sight of the 
fort. This detachment was attacked from the fort, and re- 
pulsed with some loss; a surgeon, a wounded captain and 
twelve privates were taken prisoners by the Americans. The 
next day Fort Ann was burned, and the garrison retreated 
to Fort Edward, which was then occupied by General 
Schuyler. 

As soon as Colonel Long had started for Skenesborough, 
St. Clair with the main army retired by land towards Castle- 
ton. The garrison of Ticonderoga crossed the bridge about 
three o'clock in the morning, and at four o'clock the rear 
guard, under Colonel Francis, left Mount Independence. 
Up to this time a continued cannonade from one of the bat- 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 143 

teries was kept up in the direction of Mount Hope, in order 
to allay any suspicions of the movement on the part of the 
enemy. The whole army would have departed unobserved, 
had not General De Fermoy, who commanded on Mount In- 
dependence, foolishly and regardless of express orders, set 
fire to the house he had occupied. The light of this confla- 
gration revealed the whole scene to the British, and at the 
same time threw the Americans into great disorder ; many of 
them now pushing forward without any regard to discipline 
or regularity. At Hubbardton the stragglers were collected 
and the ranks again organized. After a halt of two hours at, 
this place, the main army proceeded toward Castleton, leav- 
ing Colonels Francis, Warner and Hale behind with a rear- 
guard of about thirteen hundred men. 

As soon as the retreat from Ticonderoga was discovered 
by the British, General Fraser started in pursuit with his 
brigade, and was soon followed by Kiedesel. The British 
troops continued the pursuit during the day, and at night 
lay on their arms near the position occupied by the American 
rear-guard, at Hubbardton. Early on the following morn- 
ing, Fraser, with eight hundred men, advanced to the as- 
sault without waiting for the arrival of Riedesel, who was 
approaching with his column. On the appearance of Fraser's 
corps Colonel Hale fled with his regiment towards Castleton, 
leaving Colonels Francis and Warner, with sev(in hundred 
men, to resist the attack. 

The battle between the two parties was severe and bloody, 
and at one time the British grenadiers recoiled before the 
galling fire of Francis's and Warner's men, but Riedesel 
coming up at that moment, the grenadiers rallied, and sus- 
tained by the whole British line, returned to the charge with 
fixed bayonets. The American troops now broke and fled 
in every direction. In this action the Americans lost three 
hundred and twenty four men, in killed, wounded and pri- 



J^44 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

sonei's. Among the killed was the gallant Colonel Francis 
who fell at the head of his regiment. On the part of the 
English the loss was one hundred and eighty-three, includ- 
ing Major Pratt and about twenty inferior officers. Hale, 
who retired so prpitciately in the morning, was intercepted 
on the road to (Jastlcton, and surrendered without firing a 
shot. St. Clair, as soon as he had been joined by the rem- 
nant of Warner's men, retreated to Fort Edward, where he 
arrived on the 12th of Juiy. 

The loss to the Americans, by the evacuation of Ticonde- 
roga, was A'cry g/cat; no less than one hundred and twenty- 
eight pieces of cannon, together with all the boat-, pro- 
visions, stores and magazines were either destroyed or fell 
into the hands of the British. Among the trophies of the 
day w IS the continental standard, which the Americans had 
neglected to take with tliem on their retreat. 

The evacuation of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence 
was condemned throughout the country. The people were 
not prepared for so disastrous an event, for it was generally 
believed that the works on Lake Champlain were in a condi- 
tion to resist any attack of the enemy. Both Schuyler and 
St. Clair were severely and unjustly censured ; the former 
for not sending on reinforcements, when he had none to send, 
and the latter for omitting to fortify Mount Hope and Mount 
Defiance, when his whole force was insufiicient to man the 
defenses of the forts themselves. That a great error was 
committed, in relying too much upon the supposed strength 
of the positions at Ticonderoga, cannot be denied, but there 
were no just grounds for attaching blame to either of the 
officers in command. 

The attention of the government had been directed to the 
exposed situation of this post, and St. Clair had repeatedly 
called for more troops for its defense. As late as the 25th 
of June, he addressed a letter to General Schuyler, in which 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 145 

lie vividly portrayed Lis want of men, and Lis fears tliat lie 
might not be able to resist Burgoyne, wLo was known to be 
approaching with a large force. In the letter, he says : " I 
cannot help repeating to you the disagreeable situation we 
are in, nor can I see the least prospect of our being able to 
defend the post unless the militia come in; and should the 
enemy protract their operations, or invest us and content 
themselves with a single blockade, we are infallibly ruined." 

On the 28th of June, General Schuyler writes to General 
Washington, at the same time enclosing St. Clair's letter of 
the 25th, and says, " Should an accident happen to the gar- 
rison of Ticonderoga, and General Burgoyne makes a push 
to gain the south part of the lake, I know of no obstacle to 
prevent him : comparatively speaking, I have not a man to 
oppose him : the whole number at the dilFerent posts at, and 
on this side of the lake, including the garrisons of Fort 
George and Skenesborough, not exceeding seven hundred 
men, and these I cannot draw away from their several sta- 
tions, in every one of which they are already too weak." 

These letters show the real state of the frontier at the 
time. Burgoyne was approaching with an army of over sev- 
en thousand veterans, while St. Clair had three thousand 
four hundred men to defend a circle of works which could 
not be properly manned with less than ten thousand, and 
Schuyler had not troops enough with him to defend the 
posts in the rear. It had been said that, considering his want 
of men, St. Clair should have evacuated the works before 
the approach of the British army. Such a course would have 
been considered inexcusable. Besides the question, whether 
all or even a part of these works should be abandoned, had 
already been presented to the consideration of the provincial 
congress of New York, aqd that body, on the 6th of May 
preceding, had passed a resolution declaring that, in their 
opinion, the abandoning of any part of the works of Ticon- 
19 



X46 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

deroga, would be productive of great evils. A copy of this 
resolution was at the time forwarded to General Gates, who 
replied that he saw no reason for abandoning any part of the 
post at Ticonderoga, and that he had good ground to hope 
there would never be any necessity of evacuating or sur- 
rendering any portion of the position, if the body of the 
eastern troops arrived in any reasonable time. 

When Bui-goyne placed his batteries upon the summit of 
Mount Defiance, he effectually destroyed all hopes of resist- 
ance on the part of the Americans. Their only alterna- 
tive was to surrender or evacuate the works. By adopting 
the latter course, St. Clair saved the greater portion of his 
garrison, and preserved the nucleus of an army, which ulti- 
mately baffled Burgoyne, and compelled him to capitulate. 
At the moment, however, all classes of people were astonished 
at the unexpected result. It is " an event of chagrin and 
surprise," says Washington, " not apprehended nor within 
the compass of my reasoning."^ The council of safety of 
New York stigmatized it as a measure " highly reprehen- 
sible," and "probably criminal."- Among the people, the 
most violent charges were made against both St. Clair and 
Schuyler. It was even asserted that they were bribed by 
Burgoyne, who, it was said, had fired silocr hullets into the 
fort, which were gathered by order of St. Clair, and divided 
between him and Schuyler. 



1 Letter to Major General Schuyler. 

2 " The evacuation of Ticonderoga appears to the council highly 
reprehensible, and it gives them great pain to find that a measure 
so absui-d and probably criminal should be imputed to the direction 
of General Schuyler, in whose zeal, vigilance and integrity the 
council repose the highest confidence" — Letter to Major General 
Putnam, Julij 11, 177 7. To this letter from the council of safety, 
General Putnam replied, "I am greatly astonished at the evacuation 
of Ticonderoga in the manner it is represented ; think there is 
great fault somewhere." 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 147 

This report would seem too ridiculous to gain credit with 
any one, and yet we have the authority of Wilkinson, who 
was adjutant general to Grates, that respectable men ques- 
tioned him, with much gravity, as to its truth. i Time soft- 
ened the disappointment of the people, and when the true 
condition of (he case was known, both officers were fully 
reinstated in the confidence of the nation. 

When St. Clair joined Schuyler at Fort Edward, their 
united force, including recent arrivals, did not exceed four 
thousand four hundred men, who were immediately employed 
in obstructing the roads leading to Lake Champlain, and in 
placing impediments to the navigation of Wood Creek. So 
thoroughly was this work accomplished that, when Burgoyne 
afterwards led his army on this route, he was often unable 
to advance more than one mile in twenty-four hours. Schuy- 
ler remained at Fort Edward until the latter part of the 
month of July, when he fell back as far as Saratoga, and 
subsequently retired to Stillwater. While at Fort Edward, 
he removed the provisions, stores, boats and arms from Fort 
George, and on the 17th of July, destroyed the fort itself. 

We left Burgoyne at Skenesborough, and Fraser and Kied- 
esel at Hubbardton, on the 7th of July. After the retreat 
of St. Clair towards Fort Edward, these two columns occu- 
pied the ground between Castleton and Skenesborough; the 
English right wing occupying the heights at Skenesbor- 
ough, in two lines, the right flank to the mountain and the 
left to Wood Creek ; the German troops were stationed at 
Castleton, with detachments on the roads leading to Rutland 
and Poultney ; the centre was occupied by Eraser's corps. 
A third column of the English army, under General Phillips 
was engaged in getting the gun-boats, transports and provi- 
sions over the falls of the outlet into Lake George. This 



1 See also Doctor Thacher's 3IiUtary Journal, where he gravely 
denies the truth of the absurd report. 



148 LAKE CJIAMFLAIN. 

was accomplished after great labor and ftitigue. Phillips 
theu advanced as far as Fort George, where he established a 
depot and erected magazines for the army. 

While IJurgoyne was at Skenesborough, he issued a 
proclamation addressed to the inhabitants on the New Hamp- 
shire grants, in which he directed them, under pain of 
military execution, to send deputations, consisting of ten 
persons or more from each township, to meet Colonel Skene 
at Castleton, " who " adds the proclamation, " will have in- 
structions not only to give further encouragement to those 
who complied with the terms of my late manifesto, but also to 
communicate conditions upon which the persons and proper- 
ty of the disobedient may yet be spared." As soon as Gen- 
eral Schuyler saw this proclamation, he issued an order that 
every person who had taken or might take a protection 
from Burgoync, should be secured and sent to jail ; at the 
same time he gave notice, by a counter proclamation, that 
all who should join with, or in any manner assist or hold 
corres^jondcnce with the English, should be considered and 
dealt with as traitors. 

Burgoyne had placed great reliance upon the discontent of 
the inhabitants on the New Hampshire grants, and supposed 
that large numbers, if not the whole population, would join 
his army. But in this he was destined to be most sorely 
disappointed, for not over four hundred royalists or disaffected 
persons joined him, and at least half of these he represented as 
" trimmers, merely actuated by interest," in whom he could 
place no dependence. He also declared, in a letter to Lord 
George Germain, that the New Hampshire grants abounded 
in the most active and most rebellious race on the continent, 
who hung like a gathering storm upon his left. This opinion 
had not been formed without good reasons, as we shall now 
see. 

When the column under General Phillips moved up Lake 
George, the posts at Ticonderoga and Mount Independence 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 149 

were left with a guard of nine liundred and ten men, com- 
posed of the 53d British regiment, four hundred and sixty-two 
strong, and a German regiment numbering four hunded 
and forty-eight men, rank and file. About the time that 
Burgoyne had collected his troops at Fort Edward, General 
Lincoln, who had commanded a strong detachment of militia, 
stationed at Manchester, Vt., determined to make a diversion 
in the rear of the British line, in the hopes of recovering 
the Fort of Ticonderoga, and thus cutting off Burgoyne's 
communication with Canada. 

General Lincoln ordered Colonel Warner, with a detach- 
ment of the Massachusetts militia, to move in the direction 
of Mount Independence, in order to make a diversion ,and 
an attack in that quarter, if the occasion should favor one. 
Another detachment was sent, under Colonel Woodbridge, 
against Skenesborough and Fort Ann, while Colonel Brown, 
with Herrick's regiment of rangers and some militia and 
volunteers, was to cross the lake at the narrows, pass through 
the woods and take the outposts of Ticonderoga, and the 
works at the landing of Lake George. These places were to 
be attacked at the same time. Captain Ebenezer Allen, 
with his rangers, was to leave Brown and Herrick at a certain 
point and take Mount Defiance, and then rejoin them to 
attack Ticonderoga, in conjunction with General Warner. 
The plan thus arranged, they set out from Pawlet for their 
different places of destination. Brown had to cross the 
lake in the night and to pass, for fourteen miles, over rugged 
mountains, which he accomplished, reaching the head of 
Lake George the day before the attack. Before it became 
dark, sentinels were placed at different points on Mount 
Defiance and in the direction of the other British posts, with 
directions, from time to time, to give " thi-ceJiootso/au owl," 
as a signal to guide the main party on their way through 
the darkness of night. Colonel Brown took possession of 
Mount Hope and of a block house near the old French lines. 



150 LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 

He also seized two hundred long-boats, an armed sloop and 
several gun-boats stationed to defend the carrying-place, and 
captured two hundred and ninety-three soldiers, at the same 
time releasing one hundred American prisoners. 

But the most difficult task was the capture of the British 
works on the summit of Mount Defiance, which could be 
reached only by a cut way well defended and guarded. 
Captain Allen and his men had after great difficulty and 
labor, nearly reached the top of the mountain, when they 
found a cliff they could not climb in the ordinary way. 
Allen therefore ordered one of his men to stoop, and stepping 
on his back, clambered to the top, which was only large 
enough to hold eight men without their being discovered by 
the enemy. As soon as the men had reached the top, he 
rushed upon the garrison, already alarmed by the firing at 
the landing, closely followed by his little party, who says 
Allen, " came after me like a stream of hornets to the 
charge." The garrison immediately fled, with the exception 
of one man who attempted to fire a cannon at the assailants. 
"Kill the gunner," cried Allen, at the same time discharg- 
ing his musket. At this the man ran away with the match 
in his hand, leaving the Americans in full possession of the 
works. The terrified soldiers rushed down the cut way and 
were captured by Major Wait, who had been stationed at 
the bridge to intercept their retreat. The only resistance 
offered, during the night, was by Lieutenant Lord, of the 53d 
regiment, who commanded at the block house, and who did 
not yield until several pieces of ordnance, taken from the 
sloop, had been brought against it. 

Colonel Warner did not arrive near Mt. Independence until 
early the next morning. " He moved so extremely slow," 
says Ira Allen, i " that he saved his own men and hurt none 



^History of Vermont, London, 1798. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. \^1 

of the enemy." When lie came up, bis force was united with 
Colonel Brown's and the fortress of Ticouderoga summoned, 
but Brigadier General Powel, who commanded there, refused 
to surrender, declaring that he was resolved to defend him- 
self to the last. Brown and Warner continued a cannonade 
against the fort for four days, when finding the guns made 
no impression upon the walls, they abandoned the siege and 
withdrew their forces to the lower end of Lake George. 
There they embarked on the gun-boats which they had cap- 
tured, and on the 24th sailed against and attacked Diamond 
Island, On this island a large quantity of public property 
had been stored, which was guarded by two companies of the 
47th regiment, under Captain Aubrey. In this attack the 
Americans were repulsed with a small loss, and retreated to 
the east shore of the lake, pursued by several gun-boats 
which were stationed at the island. As soon as the Ameri- 
cans landed, they burned their boats, crossed over the moun- 
tains to Lake Champlain and returned to Lincoln's camp at 
Pawlet.i 

The fate of Burgoyne's army, after it left the lake is well 
known. On the 30th of July, the three divisions were uni- 
ted at Fort Edward. On the 16th of August, Colonel Baum 
was defeated at Bennington, by a body of New England militia 
under General Stark. St. Leger raised the siege of Fort 
Stanwix on the 28th of that month, and passing through 
Canada and Lake Champlain, soon after joined Burgoyne, 
between whom and General Gates a battle had been fought 
at Stillwater, on the 18th of September, in which the advan- 
tages were decidedly in favor of the latter. After the action 
Burgoyne retired as far as Saratoga, where another severe 
action was fought on the 7th of October. On the 17th of 



iln this expedition the Americans recovered the continental 
standard which had been left behind when St. Clair's army evacu- 
ated the fort in July. 



152 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

that month " articles of capitulation" were signed and five 
thousand seven hundred and ninety-one British and German 
troops were surrendered as prisoners of war. 

As soon as the news of Burgoyne's surrender reached 
Ticonderoga, the troops stationed in that vicinity prepared 
for an immediate retreat to Canada. A few open boats now 
held what remained of the proud host who three months 
before had ascended tlie lake with all the pomp and panoply 
of war. Then, their banners floated gaily in the breeze, 
and the clear notes of the bugle startled the echoes of the 
surrounding hills; now, with watchful eyes they hurried 
silently along, and carefully avoided the shores, lest the 
thick and tangled forest might contain some bold and unseen 
foe. Nor were their fears of an attack without foundation ; 
for as they passed the mouth of the Bouquet they were over- 
taken by a party of Green Mountain boys, led by Captain 
Ebenezer Allen, who cut off the rear division of boats and 
captured fifty men, besides a large quantity of baggage and 
military stores. 

Thus closed the military operations of the year on Lake 
Champlain. The works at Ticonderoga were not reoccupied 
by the Americans, nor was this section of country the scene 
of any important military movement during the remainder of 
the war. In the fall of 1777, Gates, who had been placed 
at the head of the board of war, conceived the project of 
directing a descent upon Canada, in mid-winter, by the way 
of Lake Champlain, for the purpose of destroying the 
stores and shipping at St. Johns, on the Richelieu. The 
conduct of the expedition was entrusted to the Marquis de 
La Fayette, who repaired to Albany, full of high hopes, and 
panting for an opportunity to distinguish himself in a sepa- 
rate command. But the project failed from the want of 
trooops. Scarcely twelve hundred men could be mustered, 
and the greater part of these were half naked and unarmed. 
" The generals only," says Marshall, " were got in readiness." 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 153 

Lafayette was mucla annoyed, but the obstacles were insuper- 
able. 

In 1780 Sir John Johnson made a descent upon Johns- 
town, near the Mohawk, for the purpose of recovering the 
silver plate, which he had secreted in the cellar of his house, 
at the time of his flight in 1776. Having accomplished this 
object, Johnson retired to Canada by the way of Lake 
Champlain, taking with him about forty prisoners. ^ He wa s 
pursued by Glovernor Clinton at the head of a body of militia. 
At Ticonderoga Clinton was joined by a party of Green 
Mountain boys, but from a want of boats the pursuit was dis- 
continued. In the foil of the same year a party of two hun- 
dred and three Indians, led by seven tories and refugees, 
passed the Winooski and attacked the flourishing settlement 
of Royalton, Vt., burning twenty-one houses and taking four- 
teen of the principal inhabitants prisoners. 

In October Major Carleton was sent up the lake from 
St. Johns, with a fleet of eight large vessels and twenty-six 
long-boats, containing upwards of one thousand men, in or- 
der to create a diversion in favor of Sir John Johnson, who 
directed an attack upon the Schoharie and Mohawk country. 
On the lOtli and 11th Major Carleton surprised Fort George 
and Fort Ann, and took the garrisons prisoners. In the 
two assaults the British lost four ofl&cers and twenty-three 
privates killed ; while the loss of the Americans in killed 
and prisoners, was two captains, two lieutenants and one hun- 



lAmong the prisoners captured by Sh' John Johnson, were two 
brothers, named Jacob and Frederick Sammons, who resided in the 
valley of the Mohawk, near the confluence of that river with the 
Cayadutta. A very interesting account of the escape of the bro- 
thers from the fort at Chambly, and of their subsequent adventures 
in the wilderness on the east side of Lake Champlain, is given by 
Colonel Stone, in his life of Brant (Thayendanegea). 

20 



;154 LAKE CUAMPLAIN. 

dred and fourteen privates. Carleton remained at Ticon- 
deroga until the 1st of November, when he returned with 
the boats and shipping to St. Johns. 

In the spring of 1781, the Iroquois chief Thayendanegea 
(Brant), meditated an expedition against the Oneidas who 
had been driven for safety to a position about fifteen miles 
west of Saratoga. This enterprise received the sanction of 
Sir Frederick Haldimand, then governor of Canada, who 
proposed to send a party of sixty loyalists under Major Jes- 
sup', the commandant at Point au Fer, towards Fort Edward 
to cooperate with Brant's Indians, who were to rendezvous 
on Carleton Island' in Lake Champlain. For some cause 
now unknown, the project was never executed. 

In the course of the summer, the British, upon several 
occasions, entered the lake with their whole fleet, but at- 
tempted nothing beyond landing at Crown Point and Ticon- 
deroga. The mysterious, and at the time inexplicable 
movements of the enemy in this quarter, kept the northern 
frontier in a state of ceaseless inquietude and alarm. The 
army about Albany was small and weak, and the American 
generals were greatly perplexed at these strange manoeuvers 
of the fleet. Whenever it ascended the lake, an attack was 
expected in the direction of Fort Edward, but when, a few 
weeks afterwards, the fleet would withdraw without making 
any hostile demonstration, the idea prevailed that the move- 
ment was intended to create a diversion, while the actual 
blow was to be struck in another quarter. The mystery of 
these singular proceedings was not fully explained until 
several years afterwards, when it became publicly known that 
the leaders of the people on the New Hampshire grants had 
been, during the years 1780 and 1781, in frequent and secret 
correspondence with the authorities of Canada in relation to 
the political destiny of the grants. 



1 This is a small island near tlie south end of Grand Isle. It is 
now called Stave Island. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. ^55 

It is not my purpose to enter into an investigation as to 
the character or effect of this correspondence. The subject 
properly belongs to the history of Vermont, and has already 
been ably reviewed by her historians. It is enough here to 
say, that on the part of the British the negotiation consisted 
of repeated endeavors to persuade the leaders on the grants 
to abandon the American cause, and to declare the country 
a British province, and on the other side, of evasive and 
ambiguous answers, calculated to keep alive the hopes of the 
British authorities, but not intended to pledge the leaders or 
the people to any certain action. It is very evident that if 
the leaders were really serious in their intentions, the people 
were prepared for no such arrangement. 

When the remnant of Burgoyne's army retreated to Can- 
ada in 1777, the British retained possession of Point au 
Fer, which they occupied as a military post. They also held 
a small block-house on the west side of the island of North 
Hero. These places were not given up until some time 
after the closeof the war.i 



1 Botta— Burgoyne's Narrative— Thacher's Military Journal— 
Trumbull's Reminiscences of his oivn Times — Stone's Life of Joseph 
Brant — Journal of the Neiu York Frovincial C'o?iffress—Loss'mg'3 
Field Book of the Revolution, &c., &c. 



CHAPTER IX. 

From 1783 to 1800— Progress and Extent of Settlements on the Borders of Lako 
Champlain — Personal Sketches— Trade and Commerce of the Country — Pop- 
ulation, &c., &c. 

We have now traced the history of Lake Champlain, 
from its first exploration by the Europeans in 1609, 
to the close of the war of the revolution ; a period 
of one hundred and seventy-five years. This history, thus 
far, has been little more than a narrative of continued strife 
and contention. Champlain was guided to the lake by a war 
party of Indians, who were seeking their enemies upon the 
well-known battle ground of that early day. He wrote the 
name of the lake upon its sands with the blood of the Iro- 
quois, and proclaimed it, for the first time, amid the cries of 
tortured and dying jirisoners. For many years afterwards 
the French and English colonists crimsoned its waters with 
each other's blood, and when, after a short interval of com- 
parative quiet, the war of the revolution broke forth, the 
tide of battle almost instinctively returned to its old chan- 
nel. It is not surprising that, under such circumstances, but 
little progress had yet been made towards the settlement and 
improvement of the country. 

In 1783 the settlements near the lake were principally 
confined to the few towns in Vermont opposite and south of 
Crown Point. In that year the whole population upon the 
borders of the lake, on both sides, did not exceed six 
hundred. 

For several years after the declaration of peace, emigra- 
tion to the north eastern part of Vermont was retarded by 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 157 

the still pending dispute between the claimants under the 
New Hampshire grants and the state of New York, in re- 
gard to land titles. This controversy had however lost 
much of its acrimony, and all parties were prepared for its 
final adjustment, which took place in 1790. On the 4th of 
March, 1791, Vermont was admitted into the Union asa sepa- 
rate and independent state. In this year the population of 
the lake towns was six thousand seven hundred and sev- 
enty three. 

In 1782, a party of royalists emigrated from St. Johns on 
the Richelieu, and commenced several improvements in the 
town of Alhurgh. Soon afterwards Ira Allen obtained a 
grant of the town from the authorities of Vermont, and 
brought actions of ejectment- against the royalists, which 
however terminated in their favor. A claim to the township 
was afterwards advanced by Sir George Young, under color 
of a grant from the Duke of York, which was also success- 
fully resisted by the settlers. 

Isle la Motte was settled in 1785, by Ebenezer Hyde, 
Enoch Hall and William Blanchard, and was organized as a 
town in 1790. In 1802 the name of the town was changed 
to Vineyard, which it retained until. 1830, when the original 
name of Isle la Motte was again resumed. The islands of 
North Hero and Grand Isle were chartered as a town iu 
the year 1779, but no settlement was commenced there until 
1783. In March of that year Ebenezer Allen, i' Alexander 



1 Ebenezer Allen was a native of Massachusetts. At the age of 
twenty-four he moved into Poultney, and in company with his 
brother-in-law, Thomas Ashley, commenced the first settlement in 
that town. He was soon afterwards appointed captain of a com- 
pany of minute men, and served in Colonel Heri'ick's regiment of 
rangers during the revolution. He led the attack against the 
British post on JMount Defiance in September, 1777, and afterwards 
captured about fifty of the reai'-guard of Burgoyne's army on their 
retreat to Canada. 



lljij LAKJS VilAMPLAJIs 

(jloniojj and JiUUh VVuod viHitcd thu towu.slajj lot Lin jjiirj/osti 
uf lucatui^ tlioir iu«jjyctivo cluiiuB. Wuud, wUu h^ ugi«v- 
moiil b(jtwuiju tUc \mt\iuiH wais tiutitlod to tk@ firut cUoioe, 
lucaLud upuij tin; houIIj «}|jd of the noftli iHlarid ; (Jurdou tuok 
tli«; uortii «ud of tlic hioutlj wluiid, uud AUwu tli<; Houtli «jijd. 
lii Auj^urttull tlii«i<i brought oii thoir titmilww uud comm«no«d 
jjiiniiiimjut iuipiovuiuuiiLH. J'^'or tlii; fiiHt t«w_y<iaiK tUy iiiliubit- 
uiitt) of tUyse irtlauUn, iu commou with thoKt of thv iiyigh- 
horiiJ^ to wu«, huti»ii«d gryut iuoouvyuwuy*' froiu th« want of 
gri»t'iaiil«, th«i moHLa«;w«Hihle hying at WhiUihall aud (jruu- 
vilh?, from «iij?hty to oii«; huiidiud wUe« diatuut. 

'J'hr town of Miltoij wuH fii-Ht settlod ii» 1788, Oourgia iu 
MM, uud St. Alhauw iu J7H&. lii 1784 Mo<'laiu, Law aud 
Boaidmau uiov«;d ou to (Johih«iHt«jr J-*oiut, uud iii thu houmj 
^'oar ira Allou njturuyd to the hiWyr fulU of the WiuoyHki, 
where he Moou after «r«iytyd miUw, u forge uud a hIiojj for 
jiiukiug aiiohortf.' 

'J'he lirst ryrtidwutii iu th<; towji of Jiurliugtou abaudoued 
their iuijiroVMUiisutK at the time of liurgo^ue'b iuvaiiiou iu 
J 777. ISUjpheu i<«awreuce, Fred«riek 8uxtou, Himyou 'J'uhh» 
uud John (Jolliu« moved iuto thy towu and ryu«wyd thy i>ot- 
thimeul iu J7Hy. 'J'he lir«t towu mwtiug wa« held iu March, 
J7H7, whuu Saiuuel J^aue wa« ohosyu towu «!k'rk. Ju ]7by 
Htejilittu Kejeti huiit uwtore iu thy village, whiyh wan opyuod 
iu thy i'tiW v)f thut ^yar uudyr thy ohurgt^ of Uruuge Hiuitlt. 
Auoth«r (itore wa,s boou aftej wardo nturted h^ Za<!heUH 
J^jarilye. 

\u tUi) yyur J 787 thyre wury about tweuty fumiiiy» iu tlw 
town •■*' '^' MiuriJ. ("hurlotU: waH lirHt jxiruiaueutiy Kcttlyd 

' li'i^ Allwu WU.M tliutirml ^tjorulury uf Vonitoul. Hub)it!<iuuutly lid 
wiiH MtaUi U'ouNuriii', luuuibuj' uf the cuuuuil, aud nuivu^vi' ^^illMti^. 
H«i ro«c tu thu i'uuk of major guuorul of uiilitiu, uud in )7'<i6 wuti 
litiitl Iu Kuioiju Cu (mi ohuAB (1 HU)))jly of urtuH for tUv ulult;. 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. J59 

in 1784, by Dcrick Webb and Elijah Woolcut. John Mc- 
Neil soon afterwards moved into the town. He was elected 
its first town clerk and representative. In 1790 he removed 
to the lake shore and established a ferry between that place 
and the town of Willsborough (now Essex), N. Y. Ferris- 
burgh was settled, after the war, by Abel Thompson, Gideon 
Ilawley, Timothy Rogers and others. In the year 1783 Amos 
Spafford, Shadrack Hathaway, Eben Murry, Epbraim and 
Wni. Fisher and John Charter commenced a settlement at 
Mount Independence, in the town of Orwell, and the next 
year Pliny Smith and others moved into the town with their 
families. The same year Barber, Durfce and Noble moved 
into the town of Benson. ^ 

Let us now cross to the western or New York side of the 
lake. In 1784 the county of AVashington was organized, 
and originally included all the territory lying west of and 
adjoining the lake. In 1788 that portion contained in tlic 
present counties of Clinton, Essex and Franklin, was taken 
from Washington and formed into a new county, which was 
called Clinton. Essex was taken from Clinton in 171)9, and 
Franklin in 1808. The town of IMattsburgh Avas organized 
as a part of Washington county in 1785, and included all 
the territory within the limits of the present towns of Beek- 
mantown, Saranac, Schuyler's Falls, and also portions of Old 
Peru and Old Chateaugay. It was the only town on the 
west side of the lake until 1788, when Champlain, Wills- 
borough and Crown Point were organized. Willsborough 
originally included the present towns of Chesterfield, Essex, 
Lewis and a part of Old Peru. Crown Point embraced all 
the territory lying between Willsborough and Lake George, 



^For further iTiformalion in regard to tlic first selMcnicnt of 
Vermont, sec /aJock Thompson's Gazetteer of Vermont — a most able 
and elaborate work. 



tiouE. aii - -jie Amenean armr. or retired te 4^ 



prop-est ol tJie &-. t eouirty wae T«ay fiknr 3br 



wat : m tbe t. ..ranae and the Konqnet 

Iiver^ au_ ^^a itod thei. i-.--- =_:::-eeD Imiidred and four- 

Prior to tht .iland had eommeBeed 

in 17T€. After 1^ irar he xetuzaed. steeompan^d, or eoon 



-D MopeitOBseand o>tlieT&. who in 17M: settled 
Bienc^ tbe £ist pexa^Lueiit eettlement vitMa tbe Baaxte of 



-i on 

tilt 1;. .. _. -„ : - . ^. - -^ _:inj 

»E t ToltmM)^-. In 1777 itt wae appointed easign in Hasec'e regi- 
^ ■ und 

ol vhiSL enerdL lie was lour lamsE «ieei«d 

iit«mw»- u: .^. ■•. ..-^ .. . axtd <«ic« of tLe 8tai« ee&al<e. During 
tiik war of l^li Le Leid tiit o£E&« of major general of Bailitia. and 

He died ax Platteliurgh 

age. 



LAKE CRAMPLAm. 261 

Zacheus Peaslee, Pierre Boilan, Cliarles Cloutier, Antoine 
Lavan. Joseph Letournan, Antoine Lasambert, P, Aboir 
and John Fessie. On the 26th of July he left Poughkeepsie 
in a bateau, and on the 29th arrived at Albany, where he 
was joined by John La Frombois, who was returning to his 
farm on the lake shore in Chazy. On the 31st the party 
left Albany and proceeded up the Hudson River about five 
miles, where the boat was partially unloaded and taken over 
the rapids to Stillwater. On the 2d of August they reached 
Fort 3Iiller, and at noon of the 3d arrived at Fort Edward. 
The baggage and bateau were drawn across the country to 
Fort Greorge, where the party procured another boat, and the 
same evening sailed nine miles down the lake, and encamped 
on a small island near its eastern shore. The next day they 
reached the lower end of Lake George, and on the 6th drew 
the boats around the falls into Lake Champlain, and sailed 
down the lake with a fair wiad, passing Crown Point about 
sundown. 

On'the 8th the party landed on Yalcour Island, where 
they were delayed by headwinds until Sunday morning 
(10th), when they set sail, and the same day arrived at Point 
au Roche. The next day, the whole party, except La From- 
bois, who had gone on to visit his old place a few miles below, 
commenced work, and in ten days completed a log house 
and cleared a small patch of land for turnips. It rained 
almost incessantly while they were at work on the house, 
and they were not fairly settled when young Monty, Lavan 
and Cloutier were taken down with the fever and ague. 

On the 26th of August, 3Ir. 3Iooers, with three others, 
left Point au Roche to visit the place occupied by 3Ionty 
before the war. " There have been several persons taking 
up land there " says Mr. Mooers in his journal. " I found 
Monty's house burnt all up, and the place where another 
21 



;[62 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

house was burned. A man has it fenced, and cnnsiderahle 
more cleared. He has been there this summer and made 
two large stacks of hay." One of the first labors of the 
new settlers, after building the house, was to cut a quantity 
of grass for the support of the oxen during the winter. 
This grass grew wild in many places upon the low lands 
near the shore of the lake, and for several years w;ls the 
only fodder used in the country. By the 11th of September 
Mr. Mooers had cleared up a small field near his house, 
which he sowed to wheat and turnips. 

About the year 1783, Jacque Uous emigrated from Canada 
and settled at Rouse's Point. Pliny Moore lived at Cham- 
plain in 1785, and Davis and Cross near King's Bay. About 
the same time Prisque Ashline commenced a clearing near 
the Corbeau River. In the year 1787 Robert Cochran and 
Nathaniel Mallory resided on the lake shore, near the mouth 
of the Ausable River, Moses Dickson, Jabez Allen and Lot 
and John Elmore on the rich lands lying between those 
rivers, and Edward Everett and John Stanton in what is 
now called the Union in the town of Peru. 

In 1781 the legislature of the state of New York, in or- 
der to encourage the raising of troops for the defense of the 
state, passed certain acts offering bounties of unappropriated 
lands to such officers and soldiers as should enlist within 
a specified time. These bounties were divided into rights 
of five hundred acres each, and there was a provision in the 
act that whenever any number of persons entitled collect- 
ively to sixty-one rights, or 30,500 acres, should join in a 
location, the lands so located should be laid out in a township 
of seven miles square, and that the remaining 860 acres in 
such township should be reserved for gospel and school pur- 
poses. These rights were sometimes retained by the sol- 
diers, but more frequently a company of land speculators 
would furnish money to the recruiting officers to be paid 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. \Q^ 

as a bounty to tliose who on enlistment sliould transfer tlieir 
certificates to the company. In this way a large portion of 
the unappropriated lands of the state, subject to location, 
passed into the hands of a few individuals. 

Judge Zephaniah Piatt, of Poughkeepsie, and thirty-two 
other persons, having united in the purchase of the number 
of rights requisite to entitle the holders to a township, located 
them, in 1784, upon the lands which had formerly been 
embraced in the warrant issued by the English government 
to Charles De Fredcnburgh. A survey of the land was 
made in the same year by Captain Nathaniel Piatt and Cap- 
tain Simon E,. Reeves, two of the proprietors, and a patent 
issued by the state to Zephaniah Piatt in 1785.^ 

The proprietors were active in their efforts to secure the 
immediate settlement of the tract. Ten gift lots were set 
apart for the first ten persons who should move into the town 
with their families, and arrangements were made, at an early 
day, for the building of mills, &c. 

On the 30th of December, 1784, twelve of the proprietors 
met at the house of Judge Piatt, in Poughkeepsie, where they 



^The following is a list of the original proprietors of Platts- 
burgli old patent, and of the number of acres allotted to each. 
Thomas Treadwell, Nehemiah Benedict and Thomas Benedict, 
1,120 acres; Nathaniel Piatt, 950; Nathaniel Tom, 480; Burnet 
Miller, 480; Ezra L'Hommedieu, 320; Peter Tappan, 480; John 
Miller, 640; Benjamin Walker, 320 ; John Berrien, 480 ; Jonathan 
Lawrence, 480; Benjamin Smith, 480; Israel Smith, 9G0; Me- 
lancton Smith, 1,120; Zephaniah Piatt, 900; William Floyd, 320; 
Benjamin Conklin, 500; Andrew Billings, 400; John Adams, 1,600; 
Thomas Stone, 1,000; Lewis Barton 200; Ebenezer Mott,200; 
Zacheus Newcomb, 1,200; Piatt Rogers, 1,500 ; General Schuyler, 
950 ; Benjamin Titus, 400 ; Charles Piatt, 800 ; John Smith, 400 ; 
Albert Adriance, 200; Samuel Smith, 200; Jacobus S. Swartout, 
200; Simon R. Reeves, 2,800; Zephaniah and Nathaniel Piatt, 
4,050; Zephaniah and Nathaniel Piatt and S. 11. Reeves, 4,300. 



154 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

agreed to become jointly interested in building a saw-mill, 
a grist-mill and a foi'ge on the Saranac, near its mouth. 
They also agreed to furnish twine for a seine, and to build 
a piragua "of a moderate size." Attached to the agreement 
was an estimate of the probable cost of the mills, from 
which it appears that three hundred and sixteen dollars were 
apropriated for mill-stones, irons, nails, bolting-cloth and 
saw, and sixty -five dollars for flour and bread. One hundred 
and sixty dollars were divided equally between pork and New 
England rum — a pint of rum to a pound of pork being a 
workman's requisite in those roistering days. 

Among those who received the gift lots were Jacob Ferris, 
Thomas Allen, John B. Ilartwick, Derrick Webb, Jabez 
Petit, Moses Soper and Kinner Newcomb. Ferris received 
a deed for one hundred and twenty acres lying on the south 
side of the river Saranac at its mouth, which covered all 
that part of the present village of Plattsburgh, lying east of 
the river. In 1785, Charles McCreedy, Melancton L. Wool- 
sey and several others moved into the town. Cumberland 
Head was then supposed to present the most eligible point 
for business, and the first stores established in the town were 
located there. After a few years the stores were removed 
to the present village, but the Head still continued to be a 
place of some importance. It had a direct communication 
with Vermont by ferry, and for a long time was the usual 
landing place for vessels navigating the lake. 

Probably few towns in the state of New York can claim 
among their first inhabitants and proprietors, a greater num- 
ber of men of talent than Plattsburgh. Conspicuous in this 
class were Melancton Smith, Zephaniah Piatt, Thomas Tread- 
well and Peter Sailly. 

Melancton Smith, one of the proprietors, was a native of 
Jamaica, Queens County, L. I., where he was born in 1744. 
While a boy he was placed in a retail store in Poughkeepsie, 



LAKE CUAMPLAIN. 165 

and resided in that town until his removal to the city of 
New York in 1784. At the early age of thirty-one he was 
chosen one of the delegates to represent the county of Dutch- 
ess in the first provincial congress of New York, which met 
in May, 1775, and soon became a leading and distinguished 
memher of that body. He was one of the committee who 
prepared the celebrated address to the Canadians, at the 
commencement of the revolutionary struggle. On the 22d 
of June, 1776, he was appointed captain commandant of three 
companies of militia raised in Dutchess and West Chester, 
and the next year was placed on the commission to prevent 
and subdue insurrection and dissatisfaction in those counties. 
He was in the same year appointed the first sheriif of Dutch- 
ess county, which office he held for four years, and was after- 
wards made judge of the common pleas. i 

In 1788, though then a resident of the city of New York, 
Mr. Smith was chosen by the people of Dutchess county to 
the convention which met in June of that year to consider 
the constitution of the United States, as prepared by the 
convention at Philadelphia in May of the preceding year. 
In the discussions and deliberations of this body, he exhib- 
ited talents and information of the highest order, and was 
ranked as one of the ablest opponents of Hamilton and 
Livingston on the floor of the convention. When it was 
ascertained that a sufficient- number of states had so decided 
as to render the adoption of the constitution certain, Mr. 
Smith gave up his objections. " This was deemed at the 
time," says Chanceller Kent, " a magnanimous sacrifice of 
preconceived principles and party discipline for the national 
welfare, and the effort was the greater, inasmuch as he had 
to desert his friend. Governor Clinton, who persevered to the 
end in his hostility to the constitution."- 



1^ Journal of the Nno York Provincial Congress. 
2 Chancellor Kent, as quoted in appendix to Thompson's History 
9/ Long Island. 



1QQ LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 

Mr. Smith was twice married. 11 is first wife was Sarah 
Smith of New Jersey, who died in 1770 ; his second, Mar- 
garet, daughter of llichbill Motte of Long Ishind, whom he 
married in 1771 and by whom he had four children, llich- 
bill, Melancton, Sidney and Phoebe, all of whom afterwards 
resided in Plattsburgh. He died in the, city of New York 
on the 29th of July, 1798, in the 55th year of his age. 

"Melancton Smith, "says Mr. Dunlap, " was a man of 
rough exterior, powerful in bodily appearance, and undaunted 
in expressing his mind, which he did in plain language, 
but with a sarcasm that was cutting and a humor correct and 
l)layful." " He was," says Chancellor Kent, " very amia- 
ble in his temper and disposition, of a religious cast, and 
very fond of metaphysical and logical discussions, in which 
he was a master." In private life he was kind, affectionate 
and communicative, and as benevolent as amiable; indeed 
his charity knew no liniits. While the army was encamped 
near his residence in Dutchess county, the females of the 
family were constantly employed in making clothing for the 
soldiers. " I could only make up my bedding by stealth," 
Mrs. Smith afterwards used to say, " for if the judge came 
in and found me sewing upon a pair of sheets, he would 
request the cloth cut into shirts for the half naked soldiers 
of Washington's army." 

Zephaniah Platt was possessed of a clear, sound and 
discriminating mind, and was classed among the first men 
of the state. In 1776, when forty-one years of age, he was 
chosen a delegate from Dutchess county to the first provin- 
cial congress, and occupied a prominent position in that 
body; he was a member of the committee of safety, and 
took an active part in the convention called for forming a 
constitution for the state. He was for a short time com- 
. missary for the troops under command of Brigadier General 
Clinton. In June, 1777, he was appointed a judge of the 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. JgJ 

Duteliess common picas, and tlie same year was elected one 
of the state senators of tlie middle district, then composed of 
the counties of Dutchess, Ulster and Orange. He was also 
member of the state convention which assembled at Pough- 
keejisie, in June, 1788, to deliberate on the adoption of 
the constitution of the United States. 

In the spring of 1777 the counties of Dutchess and West 
Chester were filled with disaffected persons, who it was 
feared, upon the first advance of the British troops out of 
New York city, would attack those friendly to the American 
cause. To prevent this, the provincial convention appointed 
Mr. Piatt and two other members of their body a committee 
to clear those counties of all dangerous and disaffected 
persons. " You are," were the instructions to the committee, 
" on every occasion, by every means in your power (torture 
excepted), to compel the discovery and delivery of all spies 
and emissaries of the enemy, who you may have reason to 
believe are concealed in any part of the country through 
which you may make your progress, and upon due proof 
immediately execute them in terrorem."^ The committee 
executed the delicate and responsible duty confided to them 
with firmness, and with the most impartial justice. 

After the war Mr. Piatt engaged largely in the purchase 
of military land warrants and located them principally upon 
Lake Cham plain. He removed from Poughkeepsie to Platts- 
burgh about the year 1801, where he resided until his death, 
in September, 1807. 

Thomas Treadavell, another of the original proprietors 
of Plattsburgh, was born in Smithtown, Long Island, in 1742, 
and graduated at Princeton in 1764. He was well educated, 
and highly distinguished for his good sense, prudence and 
firmness. In 1775 he was a member of the provincial 



1 Journal of the New York Provincial Congress. 



Igg LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 

convention. He was also a member of tlie convention that 
framed the state constitution, and was one of the senators 
under that constitution. In 1788 he was a member of the 
convention which assembled to consider the constitution of 
the United States, in which he cooperated with Clinton, 
Melancton Smith, Yates and Lansing. He was made judge 
of probate of Suffolk county in 1783, and held the office until 
surrogates were appointed, when he received the appointment 
of surrogate, which he held until 1791.'- Soon after the 
organization of Clinton county he removed to Plattsburgh 
and was chosen a senator for the northern district. In 1807 
he was appointed surrogate of Clinton county, which office 
he held until the spring of 1831. He was for many years 
the last surviving member of the venerable assembly that 
framed the first constitution of the state, and died on the 
oOth of January, 1832, enjoying to the last the respect and 
confidence of his fellow men. 

Peter Sailly was a native of Loraine, France. He first 
visited the United States in 1784 and made a tour of explo- 
ration through the valley of the Mohawk and the country 
bordering on Lake Champlain. In 1785 he returned to 
France for his ftimily, with whom he arrived at the city of 
New York in the summer of that year, and having passed 
the winter in Albany settled the following spring in the town 
of Plattsburgh. Mr. Sailly was a man of great probity, 
possessing strong powers of mind and a clear discernment of 
character. He was active, enterprising and firm ; a master 
of order and method and scrupulously exact in his business 
transactions. Although educated in a foreign land he brought 
to the country of his adoption a mind deeply imbued with 
the principles of liberty, which he carefully cherished and 
enlarged in after life. He held several offices of public 
tirust, and to the hour of his death enjoyed the unlimited 



1 Thomiison's Jlistory of Long Island. 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 169 

confidence of his fellow men. In 1804 he was elected a 
member of congress from the Saratoga, Clinton and Essex 
district, and by his strict attention to business and a judicious 
and unostentatious course, won the confidence of Mr. Jeffer- 
son by whom he was soon afterwards appointed collector of 
customs for the district of Champlain-an office he held 
throu-h the successive administrations of Madison and Mon- 
roe until his death in 1826 ; a period of over eighteen 

years. r- i • i.- 

The duties of collector, during a portion ot this time, 
were liiost delicate and responsible, as upon the revenue offi- 
cers devolved the arduous and unpopular service of putting 
in execution the embargo and non-intercourse laws. In the 
discharge of this duty Mr. SaiUy never hesitated, but upon 
all occasions enforced the laws with promptness and strict 
impartiality. Kind and affable in his intercourse with his 
fellow citizens, he wounded the feelings of none by a rough or 
unnecessary display of power, while his firmness and de- 
termination of character were too well understood for any one 
to hope by the strongest opposition to deter him from the 
prompt discharge of his public duties. 

The first court of common pleas and general sessions 
for Clinton county was held at Plattsburgh, on the 28th of 
October 1788. Judge Charles Platt^ presided. Peter Sail- 
ly Theodorus Piatt, William McAuley, Pliny Moore and 
Robert Cochran were the associate justices, Benjamin 
Mooerswas sheriff; Melancton L. Woolsey,'^ clerk; John 

T^;;i;;!^7^T was a native of Long Island and a brother of 
Zepbaniah Piatt. He removed to Plattsburgli soon after the organ- 
ization of the town, was elected its first supervisor, and for several 
years was town clerk. He was first judge of the Chnt.n common 
pleas until the year 1804, and in 1808 was appointed to the office 
of county clerk, which he held until 1822. 

T \v^r.j «vY wns the Youngest son of Melancton T. 
2 Melancton L. >NooLbt\ was me yuuuQco 



170 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

Frontfreyde, coroner ; and Robert Paul, Jonatlian Stephen- 
son, Lewis Lizotte and Jonathan Lynde, constables. One 
attorney only was in attendance, who appeared in behalf 
of the people; the prisoners were defended by the clerk. 
The first circuit and oyer and terminer for the northern 
part of the state, was held by Judge Benson, at the court 
house in Plattsburgh, on the 18th of August, 179G. The 
next year Judge Lansing held a circuit court at the block 
house in Willsborough, where the court also convened in 
1798. 

In 1789 George Clinton and Robert Yates were opposing 
candidates for governor. The canvass was so warmly con- 
tested that the supporters of Governor Clinton secured his 
reelection by the small majority of four hundred and twenty 
nine votes. The entire vote of Clinton county at this elec- 
tion was forty-five, which was thus divided between the two 
candidates. 

Cliuton. Yates. 

Crown Point, 10 

Willsborough, 15 3 

Plattsburoh, I71 



Woolsey of Long Island, and in early life had served as an officer 
in the army and as aid to Governor Clinton. He removed to Platts- 
burgh in 1785, was soon after appointed clerk of Clinton county, 
and was, for several years, collector of customs for the Champlain 
district. 

1 Thepoll list of this election was not preserved, but it can be 
conjectured who cast these seventeen votes, when it is known that 
the following seventeen persons were elected to town offices in 
Plattsburgh, at that election. Charles Piatt, Kinner Newcomb, 
■ Theodorus Piatt, Melancton L. Woolsey, Abraham Beeman, Jolm 
Stephenson, John Cochran, .Jr., Nathan Averill, Cyrenus Newcomb, 
Edward Everett, Peter Sailly, John B. Hardwick, Jonas Allen, 
Moses Soper, Titus Andrews, Benjamin Mooers and Lucius Rey- 
nolds. 



LAKE CUAMPLAIN. \1\ 

In 1793 the vote of the county was increased to one hun- 
dred and thirty-four. George Clinton was elected governor 
over Stephen Van Rensselaer in 1801, by a majority of three 
thousand nine hundred and sixty-five. At this time Essex 
had been set off from Clinton, and several new towns had 
been organized in both counlies. This year the vote was as 
follows : 

Clinton County. 

Clinton. Van Rensselaer. 

Champlain, 42 45 

Lisbon, 21 71 

Plattsburgh, 107 21 

Chateaugay, 11 52 

Peru 90 24 

271 213 
Essex County. 

Willsborough, 50 82 

Crown Point, 10 6 

Elizabethtown, 69 9 

Jay, 46 13 

175 110 

The vote of both counties in 1803 was 749, which was 
increased to 929 in 1804. Two years later the number of 
votes polled in both counties was 1,247. 

The increase of population on both sides of the lake, from 
1790 to 1800, was nearly two hundred per cent. During 
this decade considerable progress was made in agriculture ; 
particularly on the Vermont side, where the attention of the 
great body of the inhabitants was directed to the cultivation 
of the soil, the raising of sheep and the production of flax. 
The manufacture of pot and pearl ash was also carried on to 
a considerable extent. Some attention had likewise been 
given to the manufacture of iron. As early as 1792 four 



]^'y2 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

forges were erected in Addison county and two in Chitten- 
den, and prior to the year 1800 several other forges had 
been erected at other points, upon both sides of the lake. 
These forges were principally supplied from a bed near 
Crown Point, which is yet celebrated for the quality and 
quantity of its ore.i The country abounded with maple 
trees from which large quantities of sugar were annually 
made. Many of the maples were of very large size, and it 
was not unusual for the farmers to make from twelve to fif- 
teen pounds of sugar, in the course of the season, from a sin- 
gle tree. 2 

The first settlers were generally hunters and derived con- 
siderable profit from the sale of peltry, as the country then 
abounded with moose, deer, bears, beavers, foxes, wolves, 
rabbits, martins, &c. The lake was also celebrated for the 
abundance, variety and delicate flavor of its fish. Salmon, 
muskellunge, bass, shad, pike, pickerel and perch were 
caught in great abundance in all parts of the lake, and in 
the mouths of the principal streams. The lower part of the 
lake near Wind-mill Point, and the Big Chazy River at the 
foot of the first rapids, were especially celebrated for their 
salmon fisheries. Champlain. in the account of his expedi- 
tion in 1G09, describes a large fish found in the lake which 
the Indians called cliaousarou^ and which grew to the length 
of eight or ten feet. He saw one five feet long, "as thick 
as a thigh, with a head as big as two fists, with jaws two feet 



1 When Kalm was at Crown Point, in 1749, lie noticed black sand 
upon the shores of the lake, but he says it was not then known 
whether there were iron mines in the neighborhood or not. Iron 
ore was first found within the present limits of Clinton county, in 
1800, when the AVinter bed was discovered by Mr. George Shaffer. 
The Arnold bed was first opened in 1809. 

' Williams's History of Vermont. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 173 

and a half long and a double set of very sharp and danger- 
ous teeth." "The form of the body," says Champlain, 
" resembles that of the pike, and and is armed with scales 
that a thrust of a poniard cannot pierce; and is of a silver 
grey color. The point of the head is like that of a hog."i 
This fish made war upon all others in the lake, who fled in 
terror at its approach. It was probably the esox longirostris 
or the esox osseus of Mitchell. The species, of smaller size, 
still exists in the lake, and is occasionally caught near Isle 
la Motte.- 

A laro-e quantity of pine and oak timber was annually cut 
on the borders of the lake, which was rafted through the 
Richelieu and St. Lawrence to Quebec, from whence it was 
shipped to England. The timber trade had furnished em- 
ployment for the early settlers before the revolution. After 
the war it greatly increased, and for many years formed an 
important traffic for the inhabitants residing on the west side 
of the lake. 

The commerce of the lake was principally limited to a 
small export and import trade with Canada. Vermont im- 
ported rum, wines, brandy, gin, coarse linens and woolens, tea, 
coffee, chocolate, and many articles necessary for building. 
Her exports were grain of all kinds, bar iron, wrought nails, 
pot and pearl ashes, beef, pork, lumber, peltry, maple sugar 
and some flax.-^ The exports on the New York side were 
lumber, pot and pearl ashes, peltry and iron.-^ 



1 Voyages de la Nouv. France, 1G09. 

2 See De Kay's description of the gar fish and of the Buffalo 
bony pilie, in the Natural Ilistory of Netv York. 

3 Williams's History of Vermont. 

<"The manufactures here are of little importance, exclusive on 
iron works. There are five works on the New York side of the lake 
where iron is manufactured at once from very rich ore. Such iron 
sells from $100 to $120 per ton. There is also an anchor shop on 
a pretty large scale, and a furnace is erecting and nearly completed 



174 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

Tiarge quantities of grain and provisions were brought 
from Vermont and Canada, to supply the inhabitants of 
Clinton and Essex counties, who, from the first, had been 
allured from the pursuits of agriculture, by the attractions 
of the lumber trade. 

Large tracts of land, lying in Clinton county, were set 
apart in 1784 and 178G for Canadian and Nova Scotia refu- 
gees, and for such of the inhabitants of the state as had 
served in the United States army and were entitled to land 
bounties under the act of 1782. These tracts were surveyed 
and subdivided, and many of the lots were occupied under 
the state grants. The greater portion, however, were for- 
feited for want of actual occupation, and the lands were 
afterwards patented by the state to other persons. Among 
those acquiring title under these patents was William Bailey,' 
who purchased an extensive tract in the present town of 



in this vicinity (Plattsbugli). We have none but household 
manufactures of cloth. There are a numberlof carding mills, and 
nail cutting by vrater machinery is done to a considerable extent ; 
all of which alfords a very good profit. It does not come within 
the spirit of your circular to speak of the great number of saw- 
mills, nor of the manufacturing of ashes which here, as in every 
other northern country newly settled, is an object of profit and 
importance." Peter Sailly Esq., collector of the district of Cham- 
plain, to the secretary of the treasury, September 7th, 1809. 

^William Bailey was a son of Colonel John Bailey, of Dutchess 
county. At the age of eighteen he was di-afted into the Dutchess 
county militia, and was sent to join the army at AVest Point. He 
first visited Lake Champlain in 1786, and aided in the survey of 
the lands belonging to Zephaniah Piatt and his associates. He 
was one of the associate justices of the Clinton common pleas in 
1779, and was appointed first judge of the county in 1806. In 
1800 he was appointed first major in Lt. Col. Benjamin Mooers's 
regiment of militia, and was elected a member of the assembly in 
1802, and againin ]8(i(). Heremovedto Plattsburgh in 1811 where 
he resided until his death, in the year 1840. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 175 

Chateaugay. He moved there in the year 1800, and cleared 
and cultivated a large farm near the four corners. At an 
early day he built a forge on the Chateaugay lliver, near 
the falls, which he intended to supply with ore from a bed 
at the south end of the upper Chateaugay Lake. This bed 
when first opened presented every indication of containing a 
large supply of ore, but it soon became exhausted and the 
forge was abandoned. 

Before Mr. Bailey settled in Chateaugayihe was employed 
by the state to survey the lands set apart for the Canadian 
and Nova Scotia refugees. Atjthis^time the British ocjjjipicd • 
Poin^t au Fer as a miUtary post, and the commanding officer 
the^ refused to allow the "surveying party to approach or to 
continue their survey to the point. The claim of the British 
commandant seems to have included all the territory north 
of the Big Chazy Kiver, for after Judge Pliny Moore settled 
in Champlain in 1785, he was visited, on the first of each 
month, by a corporal and file of men, sent from Point au Fer 
to notify him that his claim of title from the state of New 
York would not be recognized. No attention was paid to 
these repeated warnings, which continued until the British 
gave up possession of Point au Fer, about the year 1788. - 

I have already had occasion to refer to the conflicting 
claims setup by various parties and at difi'erent times, to the 
title and sovereignty of the country bordering on Lake 
Champlain. The last of these claims had been adjusted in 

iTlietownof Cliateaugay (originally a part of Clinton county) 
was first settled in the year 179G by Benjamin Roberts and Nathan 
Beman, who were soon followed by John Allen, Gates Hoit, Lewis 
Ransom, David Mallory and several others. Mallory was employed 
by Captain Nathaniel Piatt, of Plattsburgh.to build a grist mill on 
Marble River, one mile and a half north of the present village of 
Chateaugay. Until this mill was completed (1798) the inhabitants 
procured their flour from Rlattsburgh — a journey which usually 
required one week's time. 



176 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

the year preceding the admission of Vermont into the Union. 
In the year 1792 the Caughnawaga and St. Regis Indians, 
calling themselves the Seven Nations of Canada, sent a depu- 
tation to the government of the state of New York, claiming 
a tract of land covering a large portion of the northern part 
of the state. A commission, consisting of Egbert Benson, 
llichard Varick and James Watson, was appointed to treat 
with the Indian chiefs upon the subject, and in the summer 
of 179G an arrangement was effected, by virtue of which the 
Seven Nations relinquished their claim, with the exception 
of the St. Regis reservation, for a small sum in hand paid, 
and a yet smaller perpetual annuity. 

As soon as the Seven Nations had completed their nego- 
tiations with the state of New York they advanced a similar 
claim against Vermont, for lands lying on the east side of 
Lake Champluin. 

The subject was carefully examined by the legislature of 
Vermont, but no decision was had until the next year, when 
the governor of the state was requested to inform the claim- 
ants that the legislature was of the opinion that their claim, 
if it ever existed, had long since been done away and be- 
come extinct, in consequence of the treaty of peace between 
the king of Great Britain and the French king, in 1763, 
and the treaty of peace between the king of Great Britain 
and the United States, in the year 1783 ; and that the Indians 
had now no real claim either in justice or equity. This de- 
cision was communicated to the Indians, and the subject 
was dropped without any further negotiations by either 
party. 

The Caughnawagas resided on the south bank of the St. 
Lawrence, near the island of Montreal, in Canada. The 
St. Regis Indians lived above and upon the same bank of 
that river. The latter still occupy the lands reserved to 
them by their agreement with the state, in 179G. These 
Indians were quiet and peaceable, and endeavored not only 
to preserve order within their own territory, but to prevent 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. ^77 

the violation of the laws of New York. An instance of their 
respect for order and good government occurred in 1804, 
under the following circumstances. 

Jocco Lafrance, a St. Regis Indian, in the winter or spring 
of that year, killed a man near Chateaugay and escaped to 
the Indian village. He was immediately arrested by the 
chiefs and delivered up for trial. The evidence on the trial 
not being sufficient to convict Jocco of murder, he was ac- 
quitted of that charge, but was banished from the county. 
The chiefs were satisfied that .Jocco was really guilty, and 
on his return banished him from their village also. They 
likewise addressed the following letter to Judge Bailey, who 
was then one of the magistrates of Chateaugay : 

" This may certify to whom it may concern, that we, the 
chiefs and warriors of the village of St. Regis, are deter- 
mined to hold among ourselves a strict regulation of justice, 
and that whereas, Jocco Lafrance has committed crimes not 
within our jurisdiction, but he belonging to our village, im- 
mediately apprehended said Jocco and delivered him up to 
justice where said crime was committed, to receive just 
punishment under their laws, according to the crime he had 
committed, which we esteem murder to be the most heinous 
crime in felony. Said Jocco has now, after his trial, returned 
to us again by banishment. For which now, said chiefs, 
having a full sense that the said Jocco has committed the 
heinous crime of murder, have passed a resolve that the 
said Jocco must immediately leave the territories under our 
jurisdiction, and also, if any person shall or may see said 
Jocco, it is our sincere wish that they may disappear him 
away from us, and never to have him seen among us while 
time shall be on earth. 

St. Regis, October 17, 1804. 

By order of the chiefs. 

William Gray." 
23 



CHAPTER X. 

DifflciHticB between Great Britain and the United States — Henry's Mission to 
NcwEuy;land — President Madison's Message to Congress — Report of Com- 
mittee on Foreign Afl'airs — Declaration of War in June, 1812— Troops ordered 
to the Champlain Frontier — General Dearborn's Morning Visit in Canada 
— His Army go into Winter Quarters — Affair at St. Regis — Operations 
on the Ontario Frontier during the Summer of 1813 — British and American 
Naval force on Lake Cliamplain — Loss of the Growler and Eagle — Colonel 
Murray bums the Barracks and Public Buildings at Plattsburgh. 

Although Great Britain acknowledged the independence 
of the United States by the treaty of 1783, she could not 
forget that they had once formed the largest and most 
important of her colonial possessions. A feeling of dissatis- 
faction pervaded the British nation, and led to many acts of 
oppression towards the infant confederacy. Vessels sailing 
upon the high seas under the American flag were boarded 
by her ships of war ; American seamen were impressed ; 
trade with neutral nations was forbidden, and the territory 
of the United States invaded. 

In June, 1807, the British ship of war Leopard fired into 
and boarded the United Stater, frigate Chesapeake, while the 
latter vessel was yet within sight of the American coast. 
Ten days after this attack, Mr. Jeff"erson issued a proclama- 
tion interdicting all intercourse with the British armed 
vessels then within the waters of the United States. This 
proclamation was followed, on the 22d of December of the 
same year, by an act of congress declaring an unlimited em- 
bargo on every port in the Union. 

During the year 1808 negotiations were conducted be- 
tween the two countries in a temper that promised a pacific 



LAKE CUAMPLAIN. J 79 

terminatioa of the dispute, but no definite arrangement was 
concluded. Tlie United States, in the mean time, was 
making preparations for defense. A hxrge number of gun- 
boats were constructed for the protection of the sea coast, 
and in January, 1809, the president was directed to equip 
four new vessels of war. About the same time, Lieutenant 
Melancton T. Woolsey was sent north to build two gun-boats 
on Lake Champlain, and a brig of sixteen guns on Lake 
Ontario. ^ 

When the news of the attack upon the Chesapeake first 
reached the people, there was a general cry of indignation 
throughout the country. Politics, however, ran high at the 
time, and this natural and national sentiment was soon 
consumed, in many quarters, by the fire of party strife. As 
the dispute with Great Britain progressed, the opposition 
of the anti-administration party developed itself more and 
more against the policy and measures of the government, 
until at length the authorities in Canada were induced to 
believe that a portion of the states were anxious to secede 
from the Union.- To encourage this feeling of discontent, 
Sir John Craig, governor of Canada, sent the notorious John 
Henry as an emissary among the Federalists of the New 
England states, with directions to ascertain how far, in case 
of their separation from the Union, they "would look to 
England for assistance, or be disposed to enter into connec- 
tion with Great Britain." 

Mr. Henry reached Burlington on the 12th of February, 
1809, and atfirst was much pleased with the evidences of dis- 



1 The gun-boats on Lake Champlain were at first placed under 
the command of Lieutenant Haswell, U. S. Navy. 

2 This opposition was the most violent in the Eastern states, the 
inhabitants of which were more commercial, and had suifered more 
from the efi"ects of the embargo than those of any other section of 
the Union. 



1^0 LAKE CUAMPLAIN. 

content among tlie people. " On the subject of the embargo 
laws," he writes Governor Craig, " there seems but one 
opinion ; namely : that they are unnecessary, oppressive 
and unconstitutional. It must also be observed that the exe- 
cution of them is so invidious as to attract towards the offi- 
cers of government, the enmity of the people, which is of 
course transferred to the government itself; so that in case 
the state of Massachusetts should take any bold step towards 
resisting the execution of these laws, it is highly probable 
that it may calculate upon the hearty cooperation of the 
people of Vermont." A few days later Mr. Henry expresses 
some doubts as to the correctness of his first opinions. " The 
Federal party," he again writes Governor Craig, " declares 
that in the event of war, the state of Vermont will treat sepa- 
rately for ftself with Great Britain, and support to the 
utmost the stipulations in which it may enter, without any 
regard to the policy of the general government. The Demo- 
crats on the other hand assert that, in such a case as that 
contemplated, the people would be nearly divided into equal 
numbers ; one of which would support the government, if 
it could be done without involving the people in a civil war ; 
but at all events would risk every thing, in preference to a 
coalition with Great Britain." 

Henry's investigations were not satisfactory, and before 
he left for Boston he evidently became convinced that 
in the event of a dispute among the states, the citizens of 
Vermont could not be relied upon to join the seceders, or to 
unite in a strong opposition to the war. He had at first been 
led astray by the loud clamor of politicians, and by the com- 
plaints of those who had suffered most from the operation 
of the embargo. These laws had^ severely injured the com- 
merce of the lake, and had broken up the direct communica- 
tion with the Canada markets, upon which the inhabitants of 
the lake counties depended for a sale of their products, and 
for a supply of foreign commodities. 



LAKE CHAMPLAm. Jgl 

The country was filled with smugglers, who frequently 
came in collision with the revenue officers. In some of 
these encounters blood liad been shed and lives lost. The 
first serious afi'ray occurred on the Winooski Kiver, in 
1808, between a party of government officers and a smug- 
gling vessel called the Black Snake, in which two of the 
government officers were killed. Attempts were frequently 
made to seize the collectors and revenue officers stationed 
on both, sides of the lake. These attempts always failed, 
but, on one occasion, two of the assailants were severely, 
although not mortally wounded. The feeling of opposition 
to the embargo was strong at the time of Henry's visit, 
in 1809, and induced liim to attach greater importance to 
the representations of a few persons, as to the sentiments 
of the inhabitants of Western Vermont, than was warranted 
by the real inclinations of the people themselves. It is well 
known that when war was declared, the Vermontcse were 
not only ready to repel an invasion of that state, but that 
many of them volunteered to cross the lake, and oppose the 
advance of the British into the state of New York. 

The difficulties between the United States and Great Bri- 
tain continued to increase, in number and importance, until 
the year 1812. On the 1st of June of that year, Mr. Madi- 
son sent a message to congress, in which he reviewed 
the various grounds of complaint against Great Britain, 
and set forth, at length, the unsatisfactory manner in which 
that power had received and treated the frequent remonstran- 
ces made on the part of the United States. This message 
was referred to the committee on foreign affairs, who, a few 
days afterwards, made a. report in which they fully concur- 
red in the sentiments expressed in the president's message. 

In this report the committee declare that more than seven 
years had elapsed, since the commencement of a system of 
hostile aggressions, by the British government, on the rights 
and interests of the United States. That the United States 



182 LAKE CIJAMPLAIK 

had done every thing in their power to preserve the relations 
of friendship with Great Britain, and had given proof of this 
disposition at the moment when they yere made the vic- 
tims of an opposite policy. The committee then referred 
to the attack made by Great Britain upon the commerce 
between the United States and the colonies of France and 
Spain — a commerce which they declared was just in 
itself, sanctioned by the example of Great Britain in regard 
to the trade with her own colonies ; sanctioned by a solemn 
act between the two governments in the last war, and by 
the practice of the British government in the then existing 
European war. 

They refer, at length, to the different attacks made by 
Great Britain upon the rights and sovereignty of the United 
States ; the interference with her neutral trade ; the pretend- 
ed blockade of the whole coast of Europe, from the Elbe 
to Brest, inclusive; the order of council of January, 1807, by 
which neutral powers were prohibited from trading from one 
port to another of France, or of her allies, or to any country 
with which Great Britain might not freely trade j the order 
of council of November of the same year; the claim of right 
to search vessels sailing under the American flag ; impress- 
ment of American citizens into the British naval service, 
and the attempt to dismember the Union, by a secret mission 
to foment discontent and excite insurrection against the con- 
stituted authorities and laws of the nation. 

Having clearly and plainly stated the facts upon which 
these charges were based, and reviewed the whole course of 
of Great Britain against the United States since 1804, the 
committee recommended an immediate appeal to arms, and 
introduced a bill declaring war between the United States 
and Great Britain. This bill passed the senate by a vote of 
nineteen to thirteen, and the house of representatives by a 
vote of scveuty-niuc to forty-nine, and was promulgated by 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 283 

the proclamation of President Madison, on the ITtli day of 
June, 1812. 

Active measures were immediately taken by many of the 
states to second the action of the general government. The 
state of New York approved warmly of the course of the ad- 
ministration and prepared to prosecute the war with vigor. 
Vermont was at the time under the control of the Democrats, 
and both the governor and legislature pledged themselves 
to support the country in the approaching contest. A law 
was immediately passed by the legislature of the latter state, 
prohibiting all intercourse with Canada without a permit 
from the governor, and measures were taken for calling out 
the militia whenever their services might be required. 

The effective force in Canada, at the time of the declara- 
tion of the war, was about ten thousand men. These troops 
were principally concentrated around Quebec, but the greater 
part were soon afterwards removed to Upper Canada, which 
was threatened on the west by an army under General Hull. 
In the summer of 1812 General Bloomfield was ordered to 
the Champlain frontier, with several regiments. By the 1st 
of September he had about eight thousand men, including 
regulars, volunteers and militia, under his command. This 
force was stationed at Plattsburgh, with small advance par- 
tics thrown forward as far as Chazy and Champlain. The 
troops remained in quarters until the 16th of November, 
when they moved north, under the immediate command of 
Major General Dearborn, and on the 18th encamped about 
half a mile south of the Canada line. The army collected at 
this point numbered three thousand regulars and two thou- 
sand militia. 

The entire British force on the northern frontier did not 
exceed three thousand men, and of these not more than one 
thousand were within striking distance of the American 
army. When Dearborn had concentrated his troops near 
the lines he prepared to cross into Canada. Ashe approached 



184 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

Odletown, Major Salaberry, who commanded in that 
quarter, sent forward two companies of voltigeurs and three 
hundred Indians to support the two companies of embodied 
militia, who formed the British outposts on the La Colle. 
Major Sahiberry followed, the next day, with the remainder 
of the voltigeurs and four companies of chasseurs. 

Before day-break on the morning of the 20th, a detach- 
ment of Dearborn's army forded the La Colle and surround- 
ed the guard-house which was occupied by the Canadian 
militia and a few Indians, who rushed out, broke through 
the American lines and escaped unhurt. In the mean time 
a second party of the Americans had advanced, and com- 
menced a sharp fire upon those in possession of the ground, 
mistaking them for the British picket. This fire continued 
for nearly half an hour, when being undeceived, the two 
parties united and hastily retreated, leaving behind them five 
killed and as many wounded. i The troops immediately after- 
ward returned to Champlain. The designs of the American 
general were so completely obscured that no one discovered 
the particular advantages intended to be gained by this sin- 
gular and inefficient movement. It was a prelude to many 
Bimilar military operations on the Champlain frontier during 
the war. 

On the 23d of September the army returned to Platts- 
burgh, where the 6th, 15th and 16th regiments went into 
winter quarters. The militia were disbanded; the 9th, 11th, 
21st and 25th regiments were sent to Burlington, and the light 
artillery and dragoons returned to Greenbush. Brigadier 
General Chandler commanded the troops left at Burlington, 
and Colonel Pike those stationed at Plattsburgrh. 



^Chxisiiei's History of the War in Canada. General Armstrong, 
then United States secretary of war, says this account does not 
differ materially from those given by the American oificers. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. X85 

On tte 23d of October a gallant affair took place at St. 
Regis, wliere Major Young surprised a party of British, and 
took forty prisoners. But the campaign of 1812 did not add 
to the lustre of the American arms. On the Champlain 
frontier nothing was achieved beyond the little affair at St. 
Regis. The operations on the Ontario frontier were confined 
to a few skirmishes, the defense of Fort Niagara, and an 
unsuccessful and most disastrous assault upon Queenstown 3 
while the incompetent and timid Hull surrendered Detroit 
and the north-western army, without a battle, or any effort 
to maintain the honor of the country. 

In course of the winter preparations were made for the 
invasion of Upper Canada. The two brigades stationed on 
Lake Champlain moved for the Ontario frontier in February, 
leaving a small detachment at Burlington to protect the 
magazines and provisions collected there. The west side of 
the lake was left wholly unprotected, and remained so until 
the month of September following. 

During the year 1811 a very active trade had been carried 
on between the United States and Canada. The value of 
exports for that year from the district of Champlain, which 
included the New York side of the lake only, esceeded half 
a million of dollars, of which four hundred and fifty thou- 
sand dollars was on property of American growth and 
manufacture. Among the articles exported were 1,513 
barrels of beef, 2,678 barrels of pork, 70,269 pounds of 
butter, 53,01:9 pounds of cheese, and more than 2,000 head 
of cattle. The value of masts, spars, timber and sawed 
lumber exported exceeded two hundred thousand dollars. 
The number of clearances from the district, between the 10th 
of April and the 10th of December, was one hundred and 
ninety. Of these forty-two were rafts and the remainder sail 
vessels, bateaux and row-boats. A steam -boat, called* the 
Vermont, made one trip each week to St. Johns. 1 

1 The Vermont was the first steam-boat which navigated Lake 

24 



286 LAKE CBAMPLAIN. 

The commencement of hostilities between the United 
States and Great Britain broke up this trade with Canada, and 
again put in motion a numerous band of old and experienced 
smugglers who resided along the frontier, from Lake Mem- 
phremagog to the River St. Lawrence. The collectors used 
every precaution to put a stop to the illegal practices of these 
people, but on more than one occasion the ingenuity of the 
smugglers was an over match for the vigilance of the officers. 
Small row-boats would elude the revenue cutters in the 
darkness of the night, and pack horses, loaded with rich and 
valuable goods, would frequently escape through the thick 
woods which bounded the settlements on either side of the 
lake. 

Among the many contrivances of the smugglers to escape 
detection was the following. John Banker, Jr., a resident 
in the city of New York, who had obtained from the collector 
of that port a commission authorizing him to fitout a privateer 
on Lake Cham plain, equipped a small sail-boat of less than 
one ton burthen, which he called the Privateer Lark, and 
which was provided with an armament of three muskets. 
In this boat the Captain cruised around the lake, threaten- 
ing vengeance to the enemies of his country. Indeed he 
carried his ardor so far on one occasion as to fire into the 
Essex ferry-boat, while it was crossing the lake, fifty miles 
south of the Canada line. After a profitless cruise in the 



Champlain. She was built at Burlington by Winans and Lough in 
1808, commenced running in 1809, and continued in service for 
five years. The following vessels were cleared at the Champlain 
custom house in 1811: schooner Liberty, Captain T. Babcock ; 
sloops, Eagle, S. Boardman; Euretta, .lohn Boynton ; Jupiter, 
Justin Smith ; Hunter, N. Hinckley ; Independence, Z. Manning ; 
Juno, A. Ferris ; Champlain, E. Hurlbut ; Essex, A. Rock ; Rising 
Sun, Elijah Boynton; Mars, T. Clarke; Enterprise, E. Bellamy; 
Lady Washington, R. Jones ; and Richard, Gideon King. 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 287 

vicinity of Burlington, the gallant captain would run down 
to Rouse's Point, and boldly lay at anchor upon the borders 
of Canada, until some hostile barge loaded with goods should 
incautiously run within range of his muskets. The approach 
of the barge was the signal for attack, and doubtless many 
a bloody battle would have been fought upon the quiet waters 
of Rouse's Point Bay, had not the enemy surrendered at the 
first appearance of the captain's guns. 

The property thus forcibly captured by an armed privateer 
was now beyond the reach of the revenvie officers. Captain 
Banker's next step was to appoint some trusty confederate 
as prize master, in whose possession he placed the captured 
property, with written instructions to deposit it in the govern- 
ment store houses at New York. When the prize master 
reached New York, he delivered the goods to the owners for 
whom they had been smuggled, upon receiving the stipulated 
price of transportation. As soon as the government officers 
ascertained that the goods did not reach the public store 
houses, they seized the Lark, and thus put an end to pri- 
vateering on Lake Champlain. 

Prior to the commencement of the war, the whole naval 
force on Lake Champlain consisted of two gun-boats, which 
lay at Basin Harbor, on the Vermont side of the lake. In 
the course of the summer of 1812 two small sloops were 
fitted up and armed, to which were joined four scows, 
carrying one long eighteen pounder each. These vessels 
constituted the whole naval force of the Americans. The 
British, at that time, had no vessels on the lake, nor any in 
the Richelieu larger than gun-boats. 

Late in the fall of 1812 Lieutenant Thomas Macdonough 
was ordered north to take charge of the naval operations on 
the lake, which until then had been confided to Lieutenant 
Sidney Smith. i 



1 Mr. Smith was 5tli lieutenant on boai'd of the Chesapeake at 



238 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

Macdonough brouglit out his vessels in the spring of 1813 
as soon as the lake was free from ice. The American flotilla 
at this time consisted of the sloop President, fitted up during 
the winter, which was commanded by Macdonough in person ; 
the sloop Growler, Lieutenant Smith, and the sloop Eagle, 
Mr. Loomis. About the first of June Macdonough received 
information of an attack, by several British gun-boats, upon 
some small craft at the lower end of the lake. In consequence 
of this intelligence he ordered Lieutenant Smith to move 
towards House's Point, with the Growler and Eagle, in order 
to attack the gun-boats, should they again make their 
appearance. Lieutenant Smith left Plattsburgh harbor with 
his vessels, on the morning of the 2d of June, and about dark 
cast anchor within a mile of the lines. The next morning, 
about day break, he got under way, and proceeded down the 
Kichelieu as far as Ash Island (Isle aux Tetes), where he 
discovered and gave chase to three British gun-boats. The 
wind was blowing fresh from the south at the time, and soon 
brought the sloops, the Growler leading, within sight of the 
works at Isle aux Noix. The sloops now tacked and began 
to beat back towards the open lake, having the wind against 
them, with a slight adverse current in the river. 

As soon as the British were aware of the advantages these 
circumstances gave them, three of their row-galleys came 
out from under the works at Isle aux Noix, and opened a 
brisk fire upon the sloops. As the galleys carried long 



the time of the Leopard's attack upon that vessel, in June, 1807, 
and on the return of the Chesapeake to Hampton Roads joined the 
other officers of that frigate in a letter to the secretary of the navy, 
preferring charges against Commodore Barron, and requestiug a 
court of inquiry upon his conduct. He afterwards served on board 
the U. S. ship Wasp, and in March, 1810, was ordered to Lake Cham- 
plain, where he remained in command, until the arrival of Lieuten- 
ant Macdonough, in the fall of 1812. He married a daughter of 
Judge Bailey, of Plattsburgh, and died a commander, in 1827. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 189 

twenty-fours, while the largest guns on the sloops were 
eigh teens, the former were able to select their own distance 
nor could the latter come to close quarters without running 
within range of the fire of the batteries on the island. To 
render the situation of the sloops still more critical, the 
British now lined the woods on each side of the river, and 
opened upon them with musketry. This fire was returned 
with constant discharges of grape and canister, and, in this 
manner, the contest was continued for several hours with 
great gallantry on both sid^es. About four hours after the 
commencement of the action a shot from one of the galleys 
struck the Eagle under her starboard quarter and passed 
out on the other side, ripping ofi" a plank under water. The 
sloop went down almost immediately, but fortunately in shoal 
water, and her crew were taken ofi" by boats sent from the 
shore; soon after this accident the Growler had her fore 
stay and main boom shot away, when she became unmanageable 
and ran ashore. 

In this engagement the Growler had one killed and eight 
wounded, and the Eagle eleven wounded, including the pilot, 
Mr. Graves. The whole number of men on board both 
vessels, when they went into action, was one hundred and 
twelve, including Captain Herrick and thirty-three volunteers 
from his company. The officers and men were taken pri- 
soners and sent to Canada. The two sloops, having been 
refitted, were transferred to the British service, their names 
being changed to the Finch and Chub, and were subsequently 
recaptured by Macdonough in September, 1814. The loss 
to the British, in this engagement, was never correctly 
ascertained. It must have been very severe, however, as. their 
forces advanced to the bank of the river, where, destitute 
of shelter, they received broadside after broadside of canister 
and grape. A sergeant of the 11th regiment, who had 
volunteered onboard one of the sloops, and who was paroled 



190 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

on account of his wounds, reported that he counted thirty of 
the enemy dead upon one small spot, i 

The capture of the Grrowler and Eagle gave to the British 
the superiority on the lake. In July Macdonough increased 
his naval force, which by the loss of the Growler and Eagle 
had been reduced to one sloop, by the addition of six gun- 
boats, and by the 20th of August had fitted out and armed 
three small sloops, mounting together 28 guns. This 
increased the American force on the lake to about fifty guns. 
In the ofiicial returns in the admiralty office, it is stated 
that the British had at Isle aus Noix or St. Johns, on the 
24th of July, two sloops of eleven guns and forty men each, 
and three gun-boats of twenty men each. Other accounts 
state their naval force, in August, at three sloops, four gun- 
boats and three row-galleys, mounting in all about forty-two 
guns. The efficacy of this arm was however less than the 
number of guns would seem to indicate, for the sloops, on 
both sides, were originally built and used in the transport 
service, and were not adapted to war purposes. 

Before the American flotilla had been increased by the 
addition of the three sloops, a party of British, under Colonel 
Murray, made a descent upon Plattsburgh, and destroyed or 
took away a large amount of public and private property. 
Although this was in fact nothing but a predatory incursion, 
it was treated by the English at the time, as a most glorious 
achievement, and has been so considered by their historians 
up to the present day. Mr. Alison, in his history of Europe, 
a work replete with errors in relation to the military opera- 
tions on this frontier during the war of 1812, refers to the 
expedition, and says that " the English flotilla, with nine 
hundred men on board, stretched across the lake, took 



1 The current belief, in the neighborhood of the action, Wcas that 
the British loss exceeded two hundred, but this was probably an 
exaggeration. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 191 

Plattsburgh, whicli was evacuated by twelve hundred Ameri- 
cans, without firing a shot, burned part of the naval stores 
and brought away the rest, and also destroyed the American 
naval establishments at Champlain and Burlington." 

A greater number of errors could not well be collected in 
so few words. Alison has overrated the number of Ameri- 
cans at Plattsburgh, diminished the actual strength of the 
British, and misstated every circumstance connected with 
the transaction. The force under Colonel Murray was em- 
barked on two war sloops, three gun-boats and forty-seven 
long-boats, and numbered over fourteen hundred men, includ- 
ing infantry, sailors and marines. With this force Murray 
crossed the lines on the 30th of July, passed Champlain, 
where the Americans had not then, nor ever had, a naval 
establishment, and on the afternoon of Saturday, the 31st, 
arrived at Plattsburgh, where he landed without opposition, 
and began a work of destruction which continued until ten 
o'clock of the next day, when he reembarked and stood out 
of the bay. At the time the British landed there were no 
regular troops on the west side of the lake. Major General 
Hampton, it is true, was at Burlington on the opposite side, 
twenty miles distant, with between three and four thousand 
men under his command, but from some unaccountable 
cause he made no attempt to cross the lake or to protect 
the village of Plattsburgh, although he had twenty-four 
hours notice of the intended attack, i While the British were 



i"I could not persuade my self that the American force stationed 
at Burlington, of 4,000 efl'ective men, within twenty miles of this 
place, could be suffered to remain idle spectators of the destruction 
of the public property and of this village by comparatively a very 
small British force. Messengers were repeatedly sent to General 
Hampton with a request that one regiment might be sent here, 
but to no effect. It is a fact, that from the Canada line to the south 
end of Lake Champlain, on the west side, there is not a military 
post nor a soldier to be seen." — Peter Sailly Esq., to Secretary of 
Treasury, August 4, 1813. 



292 LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 

at Plattsburgh, about three liundred militia were hastily 
collected, but they did not approach tlie^ village until the 
enemy had retired. ^ cy^^s.^ St^iti>^-.^J^_,. _ 

When Colonel Murray first entered the village he assured 
the civil authorities that private property should be respected, 
and that citizens, not in arms, should remain unmolested. 
These promises were, however, most shamefully violated, 
for the British, not satisfied with destroying the block-house, 
arsenal, armory and hospital in the village, and the military 
cantonment near Fredenburgh Falls, two miles above, wan- 
tonly burned three private store houses, took possession of 
about two thousand dollars worth of hardware belonging 
to merchants of the city of Boston, and plundered several 
private dwellings, destroying furniture and such articles as 
they could not use or carry away. The value of the private 
property plundered exceeded eight thousand dollars. 
Inventories of this property were prepared and published at 
the time, and include long lists of furniture, books, clothing, 
cooking utensils, groceries and dry goods. Soldiers would 
break into private dwellings and bear off back loads of 
property to the boats in the presence of British ofiicers, who, 
when remonstrated with by the plundered citizens, replied 
that they could not prevent it, as the men did not belong to 
their company. ^ The value of the public property destroyed 
was estimated at twenty-five thousand dollars. 

Colonel Murray, having accomplished the work of 
destruction, retired in great haste, leaving behind him a 



1 It appears by the inventories of plundered ijroperty, published 
at the time, that Judge De Lord lost $1,079.18 ; Peter Sailly Esq., 
$887.77; besides two storehouses burned and valued at $900; 
Judge Palmer, $380.50; Doctor Miller, $1,200; Bostwick Buck, 
$1-50; Jacob Ferris, $700; several smaller amounts were lost by 
other citizens. A store house belonging to major Piatt was also 
bui'ned at the time. 



LAKE CHAMPLAm. 193 

picket guard of twenty-one men, who were made prisoners 
and sent to Burlington. The long-boats and two of the 
gun-boats then proceeded to Swan ton, Vt., where the men 
burned some old barracks, and plundered several citizens of 
the place. On their way they landed at Cumberland Head 
and Point au Roche, and pillaged the houses and farms of 
Henry W. Brand, Judge Treadwell and Jeremiah Stowe. 
They also burned a store at Chazy Landing belonging to 
Judge Saxe. The two sloops and the other gun-boat, after 
leaving Plattsburgh, stood for the south and sailed ten or 
twelve miles above Burlington, when they returned towards 
Canada. As the vessels passed Burlington they fired a few 
shots at the place, but bore away as soon as the batteries on 
shore began to play upon them. While on the lake the 
British took or destroyed eight or ten long-boats engaged 
in the transportation business, and captured a Durham boat 
loaded with flour. 

While Colonel Murray was at Plattsburgh he dropped a 
letter from his hat, which was afterwards picked up, and 
found to contain information as to the best mode of attack 
on Plattsburgh, together with a map of the encampment and 
miltary works at Burlington. A few days afterwards the 
person who wrote the letter was arrested on a charge of 
high treason and sent to Albany for safe keeping. 



25 



CHAPTER XL 

Plan of the Campaign of 1813 — Hampton at La Colle and Chateangay — Colonel 
Clark at Missisco Bay — Skirmishes — Operations on the Lake — Dispute 
between the "Vermont Volunteers and Governor Chittenden — Failure of the 
Campaign of 1813 — Battle of La Colic Mill — British attack the Works near 
Otter Creek — Operations during the Summer — Death of Colonel Forsythc 
— Izard ordered to the West — Condition of Affairs after his Departure. 

In July, 1813, Major Grenei'al James Wilkinson assumed 
the command of the northern department. About the same 
time, the American secretary of war, Mr. Armstrong, repaired 
to Sackett's Harbor to supervise the military operations on 
the Ontario frontier. The plan of the secretary contemplated 
a descent upon Kingston, and a subsequent movement down 
the St. Lawrence. A large force was also collected at Bur- 
lington, on Lake Champlain, which was placed under the 
immediate command of Major General Hampton. 

About tbe 1st of September Hampton was directed to 
move towards the British posts on the Ilichelieu, in order 
to create a diversion in favor of the western army, and to 
cooperate, if necessary, with Wilkinson in an attack upon 
Montreal. The American troops, numbering about four 
thousand men, were immediately concentrated at Cumberland 
Head, where they were joined by a body of New York militia, 
who had been called into service by Governor Tompkins. On 
the 19th the infantry and light troops moved from Cumber- 
land Head in boats, flanked on the right by Macdonough's 
flotilla, and at twelve o'clock at night reached Chazy Land- 
ing. The next morning they entered the Big Chazy River, 
and disembarked at the foot of the rapids, near the village 
of Champlain, where they were joined by a squadron of horse 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 195 

and two companies of artillery. The same day the army 
moved north as far as Odletowu, in Canada. Hampton 
remained one day in Canada, when learning that the springs 
and streams, in the direction of the St. Lawrence, had been 
dried up by an unusual drought, he determined to change 
his route, and to approach Montreal by the way of Cha- 
teaugay. 

On the 21st the army returned to Champlain, and on the 
evening of the 24th reached Chateaugay Four Corners, 
where they remained inactive for twenty-six days. On the 
16th of October Mr. Armstrong was at Sackett's Harbor, 
debating whether he should attack Kingston, or make an 
immediate descent upon Montreal. Hampton was ordered 
to advance to the mouth of the Chateaugay River, or to 
some other convenient point on the St. Lawrence, from 
which an easy and direct communication could be opened 
between the two armies. In pursuance of this order, he 
entered Canada on the 21st, and the next day encamped on 
the Chateaugay, at a point about twenty miles below the 
Four Corners. There he remained until the 20th, when 
he planned an expedition against a small body of British 
troops who were stationed about six miles below. The ex- 
pedition failed, and Hampton returned to the Four Corners, 
with a loss of thirty-five men in killed and wounded. A few 
days afterwards he broke up his camp and returned to 
Plattsburgh, where the army was ordered into winter 
quarters. 

While the army lay at Chateaugay, Colonel Isaac Clark,i 
who commanded a detachment of troops stationed at Cham- 
plain village, was ordered " to commence a petty war near 
Lake Champlain." " What I am aiming at," writes Hamp- 

1 Colonel Clark served in the revolutionary war. He was a 
lieutenant in Captain Ebenezer Allen's company, and took part 
in the surprise of Mount Defiance, in September, 1777. 



196 LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 

ton, " is tranquility on tlie road, by kicking up a dust on 
the lines."'- A better officer than Clark, to accomplish this 
object, could not have been selected. He had served with 
Herrick's rangers in the revolution, and was well skilled 
in border warfare. 

On the evening of the 11th of October Clark crossed the 
lake with one hundred and ten men, a part of whom belonged 
to the rifle corps, and early the next morning reached the 
village of Missisco Bay, where a small party of British were 
stationed, under command of Major Powell. Clark placed 
himself at the head of the rifles, and advanced at double 
quick time until he met the main body of the enemy, who 
had been hastily drawn up near the guard house. Directing 
his men to halt, he approached the British and ordered them 
to lay down their arms. Major Powell advanced and at- 
tempted to speak, but Clark sternly ordered him to remain 
silent and march " to the rear of the American line." The 
boldness of the order, and the confident tone in which it 
was given, induced the major to believe that the rifles 
were supported by a large force, and he instantly obeyed. 
Clark ordered his men to advance against the main body, 
who, under command of their captain, was preparing to charge. 
A volley from the riflemen struck down the captain and 
several men, when the rest threw down their arms and sur- 
rendered themselves as prisoners of war. Captain Finch 
was now sent forward to watch a force of two hundred British, 
who were advancing under Colonel Lock. Finch proceeded 
with such promptness and secrecy, as to surprise an advance 
guard of cavalry, except one man who escaped and gave 
information of the approach of the Americans, when Colonel 
Lock immediately retreated with the rest of his command. 
The loss of the British in these attacks was nine killed and 



* Letter to secretary of war, October 4th, 1813. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 197 

fourteen wounded. One hundred and one prisoners were 
taken by Clark and sent to Burlington. 

During the autumn of this year a slight skirmishing war 
was carried on between the American and British picket 
guards, which kept the frontier in a state of excitement and 
alarm, without, however, doing much injury to either party. 
Upon one occasion, about the 1st of October, a small party 
of New York militia crossed the lines and attacked a picket 
guard stationed at Odletown, within the district under com- 
mand of Major Perrieault of the Canadian detached volunteers 
The audacity of this act excited the ire of the Canadian 
officer, who, in retaliation, discharged a gasconade at the 
whole town of Champlain. 

" Citizens of Champlain ! " exclaimed the indignant 
major, " I am happy that humanity should still have so much 
power over me as to inform you that, should any of the mili- 
tia of Champlain be found hovering this side of the line, 
I will let loose upon your village and inhabitants the Cana- 
dian and Indian force under my command. You are probably 
aware that it has been with the greatest difficulty I have till 
now withheld them. But your cowardly attack at midnight, 
of a small picket of our's, has torn asunder the veil which 
hid you from them — so beware !" This message was enclosed 
in a note to Judge Moore, with a request that he would 
acquaint the people with " the tenor of the humane advertise- 
ment." Judge Moore preformed his duty, but the militia 
were obdurate. 

As soon as the army had retired into winter quarters 
Hampton repaired to Washington, leaving General Izard in 
command at Plattsburgh, and General Parker at Burlington. 
Izard was soon afterwards ordered to join Wilkinson^ who, 
on Hampton's return to Plattsburgh, had gone into winter 
quarters at French Mills. On the departure of Izard's 
brigade, the frontier on the western side of the lake was 



]^98 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

again left unprotected. About the middle of December, a 
strong detachment of British troops under command of Cap- 
tain Barker of the frontier light infantry, crossed the lines 
into Vermont and destroyed some public store houses and 
barracks which had been erected at Derby. This attack, 
and the threatening movements of the British forces sta- 
tioned along the Richelieu, induced the magistrates of 
Plattsburgh to address a letter to General Wilkinson, who 
was then at French Mills, in which they represented the 
exposed condition of the public property, and their appre- 
hension that another invasion might soon be expected, unless 
a strong force was stationed on the west side of the lake. As 
soon as Wilkinson received this letter he ordered a company 
of dragoons to Plattsburgh from Burlington, and a detach- 
ment of infantry from Chateaugay Four Corners. The infantry 
reached Plattsburgh on 8th of January, having made a forced 
march of forty miles that day. Other detachments of troops 
soon afterwards arrived, and on the 10th Wilkinson repaired 
to Plattsburgh in person. The camp at French Mills was 
broken up, and all the magazines and provisions forwarded 
to Lake Champlain. 

The operations on the lake, during the autumn of 1813, 
were of little importance. The British flotilla remained in 
the Richelieu, while the American vessels rode quietly at 
anchor on the lake. About the 1st of December Macdon- 
ough moved to King's Bay and anchored under Point au 
Fer. A few days after his arrival at that place, Captain 
Pring entered the lake with six armed galleys, landed at 
Rouse's Point, and burned a small shed there, which had 
been used as a public store house. As soon as Macdonough 
received information of the approach of the British galleys, 
he weighed anchor, and it being calm at the time, attempted 
to work out of the bay with sweeps. At the same time he 
sent Lieutenant Cassin forward with four row-galleys, with 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. J99 

orders to bring the enemy into action, and thus detain them 
until the sloops could get up. The British, however, refused 
to engage, and Lieutenant Cassin returned after an unavail- 
ing pursuit of three miles. i 

Sir George Provost gives a different and erroneous account 
of this trifling affair. In a letter to Earl Bathurst, under 
date of December 12th, he says: " A division of gun-boats, 
with a detachment of troops, which I had ordered, on the 
1st of the month, to advance into Lake Champlain, for the 
purpose of molesting Gleneral Hampton's division, succeeded 
in burning an extensive building lately erected at Platts- 
burgh, as a depot magazine ; some bateaux, together with 
the ammunition, provisions and stores found in it, were either 
brought away or destroyed. The severity of the weather 
obliged Captain Pring, of the royal navy, under whose 
command I had placed the expedition, to return to Isle 
aux Noix on the 5th." Sir Greorge was evidently misin- 
formed as to the facts, by the officer in command of the 
expedition. 

The "extensive building lately erected at Plattsburgh as 
a depot magazine," was a small shed near the lake shore at 
Champlain Landing, which had formerhj hcen in public use, 
and the smoke from which gave the first information to Mac- 
donough of the enemy's approach. A few days after this 
affair the ice blocked up the narrow channel below Rouse's 
Point, when Macdonough withdrew his vessels and laid 
them up for the winter in Otter Creek. 

In November of this year a dispute arose between Gov- 
ernor Chittenden of Vermont, and some of the citizens of 
that state, involving the right of the militia, in certain cases, 
to pass without the territorial limits of their own state. 
The governor, in his annual message, had taken strong 



1 Macdonough to secretaryjof navy, December 5tli, 1813. 



200 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

grounds against tlie war, wliich he considered " doubtful as 
to its necessity, expediency or justice." He also declared 
that the militia were exclusively assigned for the service and 
protection of the respective states, except in the cases provided 
for by the national constitution. That it was never intended 
that they should, " by any kind of magic," be at once 
transformed into a regular army for the purpose of foreign 
conquest, and he regretted that a construction should have 
been given to the constitution, " so peculiai-ly burdensome 
and oppressive to that important class of our fellow citizens." 

In opposition to these friendly suggestions, a portion of the 
militia, under Lieutenant Colonel Luther Dixon, crossed the 
lake and placed themselves under the orders of G-eneral 
Hampton. This movement called forth a proclamation from 
the governor, in which he ordered the militia to return and 
hold themselves in readiness to act under the orders of Brig- 
adier General Davis, who had been appointed to the command 
of their brigade. " The military strength and I'esources 
of the state," says Governor Chittenden, " must be reserved 
for its own defense and protection, exclusively, except in cases 
provided for by the constitution of the United States, and 
then under orders derived only from the commander-in- 
chief." 

The proclamation was distributed among the volunteers, 
who were men stationed at Plattsburgh, and created great 
excitement with both the officers and men. The agent, by 
whom it had been circulated, was arrested and held to bail, 
in a large amount, for his appearance before the United 
States district court. The officers also published a reply 
to the proclamation, in which, in very plain terms, they 
informed the governor that they should not obey his orders, 
but should remain in service until regularly discharged. In 
this reply they say : " If it is true, as your excellency states, 
that we are out of the jurisdiction or control of the execu- 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 201 

tive of Vermont, we would ask from whence your excellency 
derives the right, or presumes to exercise the power of 
ordering us to return from the service in which we are en- 
gaged ? If we are legally ordered into the service of the 
United States, your excellency must be sensible that you 
have no authority to order us out of that service. If we are 
illegally ordered into the service, our continuance in it is 
either voluntary or compulsory. If voluntary, it gives no 
one a right to remonstrate or complain ; if compulsory, we 
can appeal to the laws of our country for redress against 
those who illegally restrain us of our liberty. In either 
case we cannot perceive the right your excellency has to 
interfere in the business." 

This was pretty sharp firing and effectually silenced the 
governor's batteries. The brigade remained at Plattsburgh 
until it became known that the contemplated invasion of 
Canada had been abandoned for the winter, when the volun- 
teers returned to Vermont, and probably put themselves 
•' under the command of Brigadier Greneral Davis." 

The campaign of 1813 was directed towards the important 
military posts on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. 
It commenced with bright prospects of success, but failed 
through the imbecility of the officers who had been called 
to the head of the army. The people were deeply disappointed 
at the result. They had placed great confidence in their 
commanding generals, whose numerous dispatches were 
written in a lofty style, and were filled with predictions of 
most brilliant victories. " I am destined to and determined 
on the attack of Montreal, if not prevented by some act of 
God," cries Wilkinson, on the 6th of November, from the 
head of an army of 8,000 men.i " The Kubicon is now 
passed, and all that remains is to push forward to the capitol," 



1 Letter to General Hampton. 

26 



202 LAKE CBAMPLAIN. 

is the bold declaration of Hampton. i Vain and empty 
boasting! Two weeks later the one was quietly settled at 
Plattsburgh, and the other was building winter quarters at 
French Mills and Chateaugay. 

The campaign of 1813 is closed. General Wilkinson 
attributed its fiiilure to the refusal of Hampton to join him 
at St. Regis, on the St. Lawrence. He declared that by a 
junction of the two armies he could have secured Mont- 
real within eight or ten days. " It is a fact," he writes the 
secretary of war, " for which I am authorized to pledge myself, 
on the most confidential authority, that on the 4th of the 
present month (November), the British garrison of Montreal 
consisted solely of four hundred marines and two hundred 
sailors, which had been sen tup from Quebec. What a golden, 
glorious opportunity has been lost by the caprice of IMajor 
General Hampton."- 

General Hampton, on the contrary, censured Wilkinson 
for desiring a junction of the two armies, with the scanty 
supply of provisions within reach of St. Regis. He con- 
tended that to have moved forward, with the 4,000 troops 
under his command, would have seriously weakened, if it 
did not destroy both armies. That his true course was to 
throw himself upon his main depots at Plattsburgh, and from 
that point to open a communication direct to Caughnawaga; 
which would relieve the western army, and at the same time 
retain all the benefits to be expected from a junction at St. 
Rejiis.^ 



1 Letter to secretary of war, Nov. 12. 

3 A glorious opportunity indeed, for two large armies to capture 
six hundred men! 

3 About one month prior to this time Hampton attempted this 
very route, and backed out before he had penetrated four miles 
into Canada. Referring to the dispatches of the two northern 
commanders, Mr. Niles, in his register, exclaims: "The cacc&thes 



LAKE CHAMPLAm. 203 

In December General Hampton was withdrawn from the 
frontier, but General Wilkinson retained his command until 
after the unsuccessful attack upon a grist-mill in La Colle, 
when he too was ordered to head quarters. The assault on 
the La Colle mill was made on the 30th of March, 1814. 
About the first of that month Major Forsyth had been sent 
to the lines, near Champlain, with 300 riflemen and 60 dra- 
goons to protect the frontier, and to break up an illicit 
intercourse which had been carried on with the enemy during 
the winter. Detachments had also been sent to the Vermont 
frontier, under command of General Macomb and Colonel 
Clark, for a similar purpose. About the same time General 
Wilkinson examined the country around Kouse's Point, 
with a view to the erection of batteries there, which should 
command the outlet of the lake and blockade the British 
flotilla within the Richelieu. 

These movements alarmed the British, who hastened to 
strengthen their military posts in the vicinity of Rouse's 
Point. Major Hancock, of the 13th, occupied La Colle 
with six hundred men, and the forts at St. Johns and Isle 
aux Noix were garrisoned by about two thousand men, under 
command of Lieutenant Colonel Williams of the same regi- 
ment. When Wilkinson learned that the British force near 
the lines had been increased, he ordered the troops stationed 
at Plattsburgh to be advanced to Champlain, where he also 
directed 3Iacomb and Clark to concentrate their respective 
commands. On the 29th of March four thousand men 
were collected at Champlain, of whom 100 were cavalry 
and 304 artillerists. The latter had with them eleven pieces 
of cannon of small calibre. Wilkinson now planned an 
attack against Major Hancock, who occupied a grist-mill on 



scribendi again rages with singular violence in the army, with 
symptoms fatal to gallons of ink and hundreds of goose quills!" 



204 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

the banks of the La Colle river, about five miles north of 
the lines. 

On the morning of the 30th the American army marched 
out of Champlain, upon the Odletown road. The advance 
guard was composed of the rifles under Major Forsyth, and 
the 30th and 31st and part of the 11th infantry, under Col- 
onel Clark ; in all about 600 men. They were followed by 
two corps of infantry, under Brigadier Generals Bissell and 
Smith. A reserve of 800 men, under General Macomb, 
brought up the rear. The roads at this time were obstructed 
by fallen trees and by heavy drifts of snow, and were nearly 
impassable for artillery. The guides, too, were ignorant of 
the country, and led the army off from the main road into 
a very narrow and crooked winter path, leading from Odle- 
town to La Colle. On the way to La Colle, Bissell's corps 
was attacked by, and after a short skirmish repulsed a party 
of Canadian militia, who had been stationed as a picket on 
the main road at Odletown. 

The La Colle mill, against which the Americans were 
now advancing, was a strong stone building. The walls had 
been braced on the inside with heavy timbers, the windows 
closed up, and port holes made in every direction, for the 
fire of musketry. A small clearing, of from one to two 
hundred yards in width on each side of the river, surrounded 
the mill. The woods adjacent were of small growth but 
very thick. The river, at the mill, was frozen over, but 
below it was open to its mouth. The Richelieu was also 
open from the mouth of the La Colle to Isle aux Noix. 

The American troops did not reach the ground until be- 
tween one and two o'clock in the afternoon, when a portion 
of Bissell's brigade took a position to the south of the build- 
ing and commenced the attack, which for the first half hour 
was confined to a fire of musketry. Major McPherson then 
brought up a twelve pounder, which he planted about two 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 205 

hundred and fifty yards to the south of the mill. With this 
gun a brisk but ineifectual fire was directed against the 
rear of the building, and afterwards against the side wall. 

When it was ascertained that the gun was too light to 
break down the walls, orders were given to bring up an 
eighteen pounder, but its carriage had broken down, three 
miles back, and could not be repaired in time to be of ser- 
vice during the day. The cannonade upon the mill was 
returned by a brisk discharge of musketry, which was kept 
up during the "Wihole attack, but did little damage, as the 
American troops were posted out of range of the fire. In 
the course of the afternoon an unsuccessful assault was made 
upon a detachment of Americans who guarded the north 
banks of the La Colle, by two companies of the loth Regi- 
ment, sent from Isle aux Noix to reinforce the garrison in the 
mill. While these companies were engaged a sortie was 
made against the centre of the American line. The attack 
was executed with great gallantry but did not succeed, 
although the artillery were driven from the gun, which would 
have been captured had not a portion of General Bissell's 
brigade been sent to its rescue. A short time afterwards 
another attack was made upon the gun by a grenadier com- 
pany of the Canadian fencibles and a company of voltigeurs, 
who had followed the movement of the troops from the 
Odletown road. This attack was also unsuccessful. The two 
companies, however, succeeded in gaining a block house 
which stood below the mill. The loss of the Americans in 
these attacks was 104 killed and wounded, while that of the 
British was reported by them at ten killed and forty-six 
wounded. Among the wounded on the side of the Ameri- 
cans were Captain McPherson and Lieutenant Larabee of 
the artillery. Lieutenants Green and Parker of the infantry 
and Lieutenant Kerr of the rifles. Lieutenant Pai'ker was 
struck by a random shot. He survived his wounds for several 



206 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

days, and expressed a most sincere regret that he had 
not fallen in close action : " Hard is my lot," he exclaimed, 
" that I should have received this wound at such a distance 
from the enemy, and vrhere I was wholly inactive." Captain 
McPherson, on the contrary, was wounded while fighting 
at the head of his men, and, at the time, was not expected 
to recover. As they were bearing him from the field, several 
ofiicers ofi'ered their personal services to carry him to 
Plattsburgh. The gallant captain paused a few moments, 
and then, thanking them for the interest and regard they had 
manifested, added " I shall be sufiiciently honored when you 
bear me to my grave." The same spirit of firmness was shown 
by the other officers, and by the wounded and bleeding 
privates. Lieut. Larabee, when some persons were pitying 
his misfortune, as he was passing to the rear of the field, 
exclaimed, " Have you never seen a man die V A private, 
on receiving similar sympathy, cried, " Never mind it, I'll 
give them another fight !" Another private, when struck 
down, cried out, " Give it to them, my boys, never fiinch !" 
At the commencement of the assault a few cannon shots 
and several rockets were fired from a sloop and from some 
gun-boats lying in the river below, but the fire was not con - 
tinned, as it was soon ascertained that the American troops 
were perfectly protected by the intervening ground. i About 
sundown Wilkinson called in the detachments which had 
been sent to the north side of the river, and shortly after- 
wards retired with the whole army to Odletown. The next 
day he returned to Champlain. From this place General 
Macomb was sent to Burlington, while the main army fell 



^ Late in the day, Lieutenant Creswick, of the royal navy, suc- 
ceeded in landing two field pieces and getting them to the block 
house, but they were not fired during the engagement. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 207 

back upon Cliazy and Plattsburgh, to protect tlie military 
stores at tlie latter place. ^ 

On the 9tli of May, Captain Pring, of the British navy, 
ascended the Richelieu in the brig Linnet, accompanied by 
five sloops and thirteen row-galleys, and the next day came 
to anchor under Providence Island,- where he remained until 
the evening of the 13th. Macdonough was at this time at 
Vergeunes, on Otter Creek, busily engaged in fitting out 
the American fleet which lay at that place. As soon as he 
was informed that the British flotilla had entered the lake, 
he ordered Lieutenant Cassin, with a small party of sailors, 
to reinforce Captain Thornton, who had been sent from 
Burlington with a detachment of light artillery to man a 
battery which had been erected at the mouth of Otter Creek, 
A brigade of the Vermont militia was also ordered out, and 
was advantageously posted to oppose the enemy, in case he 
should attempt to land. 

At day-break on the morning of the 14th, eight of the 
British galleys and a bomb-sloop anchored ofi" the mouth of 
Otter Creek and commenced a warm fire upon the battery, 
which was promptly returned. A brisk cannonade was 
kept up by both parties for one hour and a half, when the 
attack was abandoned. 

After this repulse the galleys entered the Bouquet River, 
and ascended that stream for the purpose of seizing some 
government flour, which had been deposited in the grist- 
mill at the falls. On their return, the boats were fired into 



1 This account of the affair at La Colle is derived from the testi- 
mony of Bissel, Macomb, Clark, Totten, McPherson and others 
before the court martial, on the trial of General Wilkinson, in 
January, 1815, and from the official report of Adj. General Baynes 
of the British army. 

* This is one of the small islands lying near the south end of 
Grand Island, opposite Valcour. 



Vv £ c'.irLr.tirT of Tiy'Iraa TrLc iiad iiasnhr Cv.-j-.-. -v- .'L the 
somk hui-L .■'. '.'hi- rz^er near ix= month. Tid? fire kiBei ot 
voTiiided D; . -le nieii in tiie rear c&HeT. The l<:iiT 

aftfiTvardf - '! -f lake, and va? T^ved of ' ~ -■ - 

boats seDi : ;.- The raHers xheji 

"brig and xht ti. .:ring tit 

barseiT. iiad ren..^ «. ; „ear the i . .^: _..._.:.- 

On "the 16th Oaptaiii Prinr reTumed » Isle aux Xcax. A 
iew days afrerrards MaedonoxLci hroxisiiT hi? £eet oni of 
Otter Creek, and or the l!r»th easi anchor in OtLmt»e.rlaDd Bar. 
D"£" PiatisbTirciL. 

Ihuinr the summer xhe British and Americans -were ac- 
"ET^elT •'--.-" in Btrenrniieninir their jtasraon? aaong the 
Cham: ex. Larre reinforeements joined the armx 

e: Thile the . iiamhlr. St. Johns 

aii^ _ .. ^. . -X were iL. .„ . _ ._ ...lachments of troops 

drawn from Montreal and t^^eliee. Major <reneral Izard. 
vhc' iiad si^ " the vithdrEV;" :~ 

"Wilkinson "* ^ batterr at B. _^. r 

PmxcL, "to gxtard the entrance from the Bit^mlieii into the 
lake. - 

from l-r . .. : 

anx !!Voix. be objeeiedto ereeang works tbere. and instead, 
caused a batterr of .Lteen pounders and a largt 

redoubt to be eonsir^ mnberland Head.- 

On tie llti of June, a hpit bii^de under eammand of 
Qeneral Si^ ; " -Txh's xeri" " " " riflemen, ajid two 
cianpaniet : :'t were -. - near the mouth of 

Itead Creek, about twT> miies north of the Tillage of 
PiatTsburtrk. These troops advanced as fiar as Chair on the 



-The workf or .. : - Head'V'ert cp-mriei- i 

tc liie TiewF nf ex.. wbc ccmsiQerec- 

imT'fcif or r. -.Lit: i. pusBiup £eez. Ttej yi\--^i:L ubt^^sE 

wid were bul.: l ua firsi approach of Uie EriuBb, 



LAKE CHAMPLAiy. 209 

17th, and on the 27th occupied the village of Champlain. 
Smith's brigade was 1,400 strong. At the latter date, Colonel 
Pierce, of the 13th regiment, was at Chazy with 800 men, 
and about 1,200 men occupied the works on Cumberland 
Head, at Dead Creek and in the village of Plattsburgh. 
Macdonough's fleet lay at anchor in King's Bay. The British 
then held La CoUe with a force of 3,600 men. They also 
had strong garrisons at Isle aux Noix and St. Johns. 
Huron's regiment, 1,000 strong, was at L'Acadie, two brig- 
ades of artillery and 300 cavalry at Cbambly, and 2,000 
regulars at Montreal. Their fleet lay at Isle aux Tetes. 

On the 24th of June, Lieutenant Colonel Forsyth, with 70 
of his riflemen, penetrated into Canada as far as Odletown, 
where he was attacked by a detachment of two hundred 
British light troops. Forsyth returned to Champlain, with 
the loss of one killed and five wounded. A few days after- 
wards he was ordered again to enter Canada, for the purpose 
of drawing the British across the lines into an ambuscade. 
He advanced a few men on the main road leading to Odletown, 
who soon met a party of the enemy, when they retreated, 
closely pursued by about one hundred and fifty Canadians 
and Indians, under command of Captain Mahew, until they 
reached a point about half a mile south of the lines, where 
the main body of the rifles lay concealed. As the enemy 
approached the ambuscade. Colonel Forsyth stepped upon a 
log to watch their movements. He had scarcely taken this 
exposed position when he was shot down by an Indian, 
the ball passing through his breast. The rifles immediately 
uncovered and fired upon the enemy, who retreated in great 
haste, leaving seventeen of their number dead upon the 
fieldi. 



1 Forsyth was the best partisan officer in the army. His men 
declared that they would avenge his death, and a few days after- 

27 



210 LAKE CHAMPLAm. 

A few days afterwards, Captain Nelson, of the 10th in- 
fantry, crossed into Canada with a small detachment, surprised 
a British picket in Odietown, took some of them prisoners 
and put the rest to flight. Skirmishes were very frequent 
along the borders during the months of July and August, 
although seldom attended with any considerable loss to 
either side. 

On the 31st of July, Macomb's brigade, consisting of the 
6th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 29th regiments, set out in boats 
fi om Cumberland Head, for Chazy landing. The same day, 
Bissell's brigade, of the 5th, 14th, 30th, 31st, 33d, 34th and 
45 th regiments, started for Chazy by land. This movement 
placed three brigades, in all 4,500 strong, at and in rear of 
the village of Champlain. The invalids and 200 eflfectives 
of Macomb's brigade were left behind, to finish the works at 
Cumberland Head, and a working party of about 400 strong 
of Bissell's brigade was left at Plattsburgh under Colonel 
Fenwick, to complete three redoubts which had been, com- 
menced near that village. 

In the month of August Sir George Provost repaired to 
the Isle aux Noix, where he had concentrated a large body 
of men, including several veteran regiments who had lately 
distinguished themselves on the banks of the Adour and the 
Garronne. Every thing now indicated that a battle was 
soon to be fought on the Champlain frontier, which would 
decide the fate of the campaign, and the control of the whole 
country bordering on the lake. It was at this moment that 
the government determined to remove the troops from Lake 
Champlain, and to abandon the large amount of military 



wards crossed the lines and shot Captain Mahew, who commanded 
the Canadians and Indians at the time of Forsyth's death. Mahew 
was taken to the residence of Judge Moore in Champlain, where 
he lingered about a week and died. 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 211 

stores and provisions collected at Plattsburgh, the lives and 
property of its citizens, and the great military key of the 
northern and eastern states to the protection of a few raw, 
worn out, sick gr disabled men. This strange movement 
evinced a reckless indifference on the part of the govern- 
ment as to the result of the war in this quarter, i 

General Izard strongly protested against the removal of 
the troops, and repeatedly represented to the war department 
the fatal results that might be expected from such a move- 
ment. As late as the 20th of August, he writes the secretary 
of war as follows : " I must not be responsible for the conse- 
quences of adandoning my present strong position. I will 
obey orders and execute them as well as I know how. Major 
General Brisbane commands at Odletown ; he is said to 
have between five and six thousand men with him. Those 
at Chambly are stated to be about four thousand." On the 
23d he again writes that he has decided to move west, by 
way of Lake George and Schenectady, with 4,000 men, leav- 
ing the sick and convalescents, and about 1,200 men, to 
garrison Plattsburgh and Cumberland Head, under command 
of Brigadier General Macomb. 



lit has been asserted in certain quarters, that the authorities 
at Washington never intended a real invasion of Canada, for fear 
that the reduction of Montreal and the other important points upon 
the St. Lawrence might ultimately lead to annexation, and to a 
consequent increase of political power, north of Mason and Dix- 
on's line. AVhile old and superannuated generals commanded on 
this frontier, they were allowed, ad libitum, to lead their armies to 
and fro along the outskirts of Canada, but the moment a fighting 
man, with the regular snap of war in him, was found to be in com- 
mand, the army was broken up and its best fragments sent to aid 
in some distant operations, where the most triumphant success 
could not endanger the cities of Montreal and Quebec, which were 
justly considered as the keys of the British provinces. 



212 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

Receiving no counter orders, Izard, on the 29tli of August, 
left Champlain and Chazy with the 4th, 5th, 10th, 12th, 
13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 45th inftintry, the light artillery 
armed as infantry and the dragoons, and slowly and reluc- 
tantly moved towards the west. On the 3d of September 
his corps reached Lake George, where they remained two 
days, anxiously expecting orders to return to Plattsburgh. 
No such orders arrived, and Izard again put his column in 
motion. On the 7th he reached Schenectady, from which 
place he urged on more rapidly. 

As soon as Izard left General Macomb concentrated his 
whole force at Plattsburgh, where he commenced imme- 
diate preparations to resist an attack. From the returns of 
the 28th of August it appears that on that day he had the 
following troops within the limits of his command : 

Detachments of the regiments and corps that marched, 77 

Capt. Leonard's company of light artillery, 100 

Capt. McGlassin's company, 15th regt., 50 

The 6th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 33d and 34th regiments, 
reported from the aggregate present on the 31st 

July, 1,771 

Capt. Sproul's detachment of 13th regiment, 200 

Sick and invalids of the regiments and corps that left, 803 

Aggregate , 3,001 

There were two veteran companies of artillery under 
Captain Alexander Brooks, which were omitted in the 
return. Two hundred and fifty infantry w§re also on board 
the fleet doing duty as marines. This brought the whole 
force to about 3,400 men, of whom over 1,400 were invalids 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 213 

or non-combatants. 1 With tliis force Macomb prepared to 
resist the advance of fourteen thousand veteran British sol- 
diers. 



1 General Macomb, in his detailed report of the battle of Platts- 
burgh, says: "Except the four companies of the Gth regiment, I had 
not an organized battalion among those remaining; the garrison 
was composed of convalescents and the recruits of the new regiments 
— all in the greatest confusion, as well as the ordinance and stores ; 
and the works in no state of defense." 



CHAPTER XII. 

Sir George Provost invades tlie United States — Preparations at Plattsburgli 
to Resist his Advance — Description of tlie American Forts, &c. Tlie British 
encamp at Chazy — Battle of Beelimantown — Provost's Position on the 
North Baulca of the Saranac — Captain McClassin attacks a Briitsh Battery 
— American and British force on the Lalje — Naval Engagement off Platts- 
burgh — Battle of Plattsburgh — Provost retreats to Canada — The Peace. 

Greneral Izard abandoned tlie camp at Champlain on the 
29tli of August, and the next day Major General Brisbane 
advanced his division from Odletown to that place. On the 
3d of September fourteen thousand British troops were 
collected at Champlain. This force was composed of four 
troops of the 19th light dragoons, 300 men; two companies 
royal artillery, 400 men ; one brigade of rocketeers, twenty- 
five men ; one brigade royal sappers and miners, seventy- 
five men; the first brigade of inftin try, consisting of the 
first battallion of the 27th regiment, the 58th and 5th, and 
the 3d or buffs, in all 3,700 men, under command of Major 
General Robinson ; the second brigade, formed by the 88th 
and 39th, and the third battallions of the 27th and 76th, in 
all 3,600 men, under Major General Powers; the third 
brigade, composed of the second battallion of the 8th or 
king's, and the 18th, 49th and 6th, 3,100 men, under Major 
General Brisbane. There was also a light brigade 2,800 
strong, composed of Muron's Swiss regiment, the Canadian 
chasseurs, the voltiguers and the frontier light infantry. 
The whole was under Sir George Provost, governor general 
of Canada; Lieutenant General De Rottenburgh being 
second in command. 

On the 4th the main body reached Chazy village, and 
the next night encamped near Sampson's, about eight miles 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 215 

from the village of Plattsburgla. At tbe same time Captain 
Pring, with a number of gun-boats, moved up the lake as 
far as Isle la Motte, and erected a battery of three long 18 
pounders on the west side of that island, to cover the land- 
ing of the supplies for the troops. 

Brigadier General Macomb was now at Plattsburgh ac- 
tively engaged in preparations to resist the expected attack. 
On the 3d of September he issued a general order detailing 
his plan of defense. " The troops (says this order) will line 
the parapet in two ranks, leaving intervals for the artillery, 
sufficient number of infantry to line all the faces (in single 
A reserve of one fifth of the whole force in infantry will be 
detailed and paraded, fronting the several angles, which it 
will be their particular duty to sustain. To each bastion 
are to be assigned, by the several commanders of forts, a 
rank) of each tier. Should the enemy gain the ditch, the 
front rank of the part assailed will mount the parapet and 
repel him with its fire and bayonet. If the men of this rank 
are determined, no human force can dispossess them of that 
position." 

The American works were built upon an elevated plain 
lying between the banks of the river Saranac and Lake 
Champlain. The river descends from the west until it 
approaches within about one hundred and sixty rods of the 
lake, and then turns towards the north and runs about one 
mile in a northeasterly direction to the lake. The land, 
between the river and lake, at this point, is nearly in the 
shape of a right angled triangle, the perpendicular being 
formed by the lake shore. About eighty rods above the 
mouth of the river, and near the centre of the village, is 
the lower bridge, and about one mile higher up, following 
the course of the stream, was another bridge, on the road 
leading south to Salmon River, called the upper bridge. 
One mile and a half above the upper bridge is a ford of the 



2\Q LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

river. 1 The stream can also be forded at the bridges, and 
at a point about midway between them. The south bank 
of the river, above the village, is from fifty to sixty feet 
high, and steep. About sixty rods above the lower 
bridge is a deep ravine, running back from the river and 
extending nearly to the lake shore. The principal work, 
called Fort Moreau, stood opposite the bend of the river, 
and about half way between it and the lake. It was three 
fourths of a mile south of the lower bridge. A redoubt, 
called Fort Brown, stood on the bank of the river, directly 
opposite the bend, and about fifty rods west of Fort Moreau. 
There was another redoubt to the east of Fort Moreau, near 
the bank of the lake, called Fort Scott. On the point, near 
the mouth of the river, was a block house and battery. An- 
other block house stood on the south side of the ravine, about 
half way between the river and the lake. The defense of 
Fort Moreau was entrusted to Colonel Melancton Smith, 
•who had for its garrison the 29th and 6th regiments. Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Storrs was stationed in Fort Brown, with 
detachments of the 30th and 31st, and Major Vinson in 
Fort Scott, with the 33d and 34th. The block house near the 
ravine, was entrusted to Captain Smith of the rifles, and 
had for its defense a part of his company and of the con- 
valescents of one of the absent regiments. The block house 
on the point was garrisoned by a detachment of artillery, 
under Lieutenant Fowler. The light artillery were ordered 
to take such position as would best annoy the enemy. When 
not employed they were to take post in. the ravine with the 
light troops. 

As soon as the British had advanced to Cliazy village, 
Captain Sproul was ordered by General Macomb, with two 
hundred men of the 13th, and two field pieces, to take 



1 This ford is near the spot where General Pike encamped in 
1812. The buildings were burned by Colonel Murray in 1813. 



28 



PLATTSBURGH AND VICINITY, Sept., 1814. 




LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 219 

position near the Dead Creek bridge, and to abattis tbe road 
beyond, wbile Lieutenant Colonel Appling was stationed in 
advance with one hundred and ten riflemen, and a troop of 
New York state cavalry, under Captain 8afi"ord and Lieu- 
tenant M. M. Standish, to watch the movements of the enemy. 
Macomb also made arrangements with Major General Mooers 
for calling out the New York militia, and addressed a letter 
to Governor Chittenden, of Vermont, requesting aid from 
that state. On the 4th seven hundred of the Clinton and 
Essex militia had collected at Plattsburgh. They were 
advanced the next day about five miles on the north road, 
and lay during the night in the vicinity of the present stone 
church in Beekmantowu. The militia were directed to 
watch the enemy, skirmish with him as he advanced, break 
up the bridges and obstruct the road with fallen trees. 

On the 5th, as we have already stated, the British occu- 
pied a position near Sampson's, on the lake road. The troops 
were there divided into two columns, and moved towards 
the village of Plattsburgh on the morning of the 6th, before 
day-light, the right column crossing over to the Beekman- 
towu road and the left following the lake road leading to the 
Dead Creek bridge. The right column was composed of 
Major General Powers's brigade, supported by four com- 
panies of light infantry and a demi-brigade under Major 
General Robinson. The left was led by Major General 
Brisbane's brigade. Information of this contemplated move- 
ment having reached General Macomb on the evening of 
the 5th, he ordered Major Wool, with a detachment of two 
hundred and fifty men, to advance on the Beekmantown road 
to the support of the militia. Captain Leonard, of the light 
artillery, was also directed to be on the ground before day- 
light, with two field pieces. 

The right column of the British advanced more raj^idly 
than the left, and at an early hour met Major Wool's detach- 



220 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

ment and the militia, who had taken a position near the 
residence of Ira Howe, in Beekmantown. Wool's party 
opened a brisk fire of musketry upon the head of the British 
column as it approached, severely wounding Lieutenant 
West of the the 3d Buffs, and about twenty privates. Near 
this place, Goodspeed and Jay, two men of Captain Atwood's 
company of militia, were wounded and taken prisoners. 
Wool, with his men, now fell back as far as Culver's Hill, 
four and a half miles from the village, where he awaited the 
approach of the British. He was supported by a few of the 
militia, but the greater portion retreated precipitately after 
the first fire near Howe's. The resistance at Culver's Hill was 
intrepid but momentary, for the British troops pressed firmly 
forward, occupying the whole road, and only returning the 
fire by their flanks and leading platoons ; the latter were 
once driven to the base of the hill, after having reached its 
summit. At this point. Lieutenant Colonel Willington, of 
the 3d Buffs, fellas he was ascending the hill at the head of his 
regiment. Ensign Chapman, of the same regiment, was 
also killed there, and Captain Westropp, of the 58th, severely 
wounded. Several of the Americans were killed, includinsr 
Patridge, of the Essex militia. 

Learning that a large body of the British were advancing 
on a parallel road, leading from Beekmantown Corners, to 
gain his rear. Wool fell back as far as Halsey's Corners, about 
one and a half miles from the village bridge. He was there 
joined, about eight o'clock in the morning, by Captain 
Leonard with two pieces of light artillery. Leonard placed 
his guns in battery at an angle in the road, masked by Wool's 
infantry and a small body of militia, and as the British 
approached opened a most galling fire upon the head of the 
column, the balls cutting a narrow and bloody lane through 
the moving mass. Three times were the guns discharged, 
but even this terrible fire did not check the progress of the 
column, for the men, throwing aside their knapsacks, pressed 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 221 

forward, the bugles sounding tlie charge, and forced Leonard 
hastily to withdraw towards the village. At this place a 
number of the British were killed or wounded. Among the 
latter was Lieutenant Kingsbury, of the 3d Buffs, who 
was taken into the adjoining farm house of Isaac C Piatt 
Esq., where he soon afterwards died. 

Finding that the enemy's right column was steadily ap- 
proaching the village, General Macomb ordered in the 
detachments at Dead Creek, at the same time directing 
Lieutenant Colonel Appling to fall on the British flank. 
The rapid advance of the column on the Beekmantown road 
had reversed Appling's position, and he had barely time to 
save his retreat, coming in a few rods ahead as the British 
debouched from the woods a little north of the village. 
There he poured in a destructive fire from his riflemen at 
rest, and continued to annoy the enemy until he formed a 
junction with Wool, who was slowly retiring towards the 
lower bridge. The field pieces were taken across the bridgt 
and formed a battery for its protection, and to cover the 
retreat of Wool's, Appling's and Sproul's men. These 
detachments retired alternately, keeping up a brisk fire 
until they got under cover of the works. 

The left column of the British army did not arrive near 
the village until after Sproul's and AppUng's detachments 
had been withdrawn, their march having been retarded by 
the obstructions placed in the road, and by the removal of 
the bridge at Dead Creek. As this column passed along 
the beach of the lake it was much annoyed by a brisk fire 
from several galleys, which Macdonough had ordered to 
the head of the bay. After this fire had continued for 
about two hours the wind began to blow so heavy from the 
south as to endanger the safety of the galleys. Mr. Duncan, 
a midshipman of the Saratoga, was therefore sent in a gig to 
order them to return. As that officer approached he re- 
ceived a severe wound from the enemy's fire, which for a 



222 LAEE CHAMPLAIN. 

few minutes was concentrated upon liis boat.i About this 
time one of the galleys drifted under the guns of the British 
and sustained some loss, but was eventually brought off. 

As soon as the American troops had crossed the river, 
the planks were removed from the lower bridge, and were 
piled up at its east end to form a breast-work for the 
infantry. A similar breast-work was made by the militia, 
at the upper bridge. The British light troops made several 
attempts in the course of the day, to cross at the village, 
but were repixlsed by the guards at the bridge, and by the 
sharp fire of a company of volunteers who had taken pos- 
session of a stone grist mill near by.i An attempt was also 
made to cross at the upper bridge, which was gallantly 
resisted by the militia. The loss this day, on both sides, 
was greater than the whole loss during the rest of the siege, 
forty-five of the Americans, and more than two hundred 
British having been killed or wounded.- 



lOn the 2Gth of May, 1826, congress passed a resolution of 
thanks to Midshipman Silas Duncan for his gallant conduct on this 
occasion. 

1 This company was called Aiken's volunteers and was composed 
of the following young men, none of whom were old enough to be 
liable to perform military duty ; Martin J. Aiken, Azariah C. Flagg, 
Ira A. Wood, Gustavus A. Bird, .James Trowbridge, Hazen Mooers, 
Henry K. Avei'ill, St. John B. L. Skinner, Frederick P. Allen, 
Hiram Walworth, Ethan Everest, Amos Soper, James Patten, 
Bartemus Brooks, Smith Bateman, Melancton W. Travis and 
Flavins Williams. They had been out on the Beekmantown road 
in the morning, where they behaved with great gallantry. In 
May, 1826, congress authorized the president to cause to be de- 
livered to each, "One rifle promised to them by General Macomb, 
while commanding the Champlain department, for their gallantry 
and patriotic services as a volunteer corps during the siege of 
Plattsburgh in September, 1814." 

^General Macomb, in his general order of the 7th, estimates the 
British loss at from two to three hundred. The Burlington Sen- 
tinel of the 9th states it to have about three hundred. 



LAKE CBAMPLAIN. 223 

The configuration of the land on the north side of the 
river differs somewhat from that on the south side. The 
bank at the mouth of the river is abrupt and about thirty 
feet high. This bank, with a depression above the lower 
bridge, opposite the mill pond, follows the margin of the 
stream, until within about eighty rods of Fort Brown, when 
the hill recedes from the river and is less abrupt. The flat 
and hill opposite Fort Brown were covered with small trees 
and bushes. About one mile back from the river is an ele- 
vated ridge running to the north. At Allen's farm house, 
which stood upon this ridge at the distance of about one and 
one fourth miles from the American forts. Sir George Pro- 
vost established his head quarters. The army were en- 
camped upon the ridge, and on the high ground north of the 
village. 

From the 7th to the 10th Provost was busily engaged in 
bringing up his battering trains and supplies, and in prepar- 
ing his approaches. He erected a battery on the bank of 
the lake north of the mouth of the river ; and another near 
the edge of the steep bank above the mill pond ; another near 
the burial ground, and one, supplied with rocket works, on 
the hill opposite Fort Brown. Besides these, there were 
three smaller batteries erected at other points, within range 
of the American forts. 

While Provost was thus engaged the American troops 
were diligently at work, day and night, in strengthening 
their defenses. The barracks and hospitals in the vicinity 
of the forts were burned, and the sick removed to Crab Is- 
land, about two miles distant, where they were protected 
from the weather by tents. A small battery was erected on 
that island, mounting two six pounders, which was manned 
by convalescents. The Americans also, during this time, 
fired hot shot into and burned some fifteen or sixteen build- 



224 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

ings, on the north side of the river, which had afforded pro- 
tection to the British light troops, i 

From the 7th to the 10th the pickets and militia were 
engaged in frequent skirmishes with the enemy at the two 
bridges, and at the different fords along the river. On the 
morning of the 7th, a party of British, under Captain Noa- 
die, attempted to cross the river at a ford about five miles 
west of the village. They were, however, met by a company 
of Colonel Miller's regiment of militia, under command of 
Captain Vaughan, and were repulsed with a loss of two 
killed and several wounded. The same day, Lieutenant 
Runk, of the 6th, was mortally wounded, as he was passing 
in the street, near the present dwelling of A. C Moore Esq. 

On the night of the 9th, while the British were engaged in 
erecting their rocket battery near Fort Brown, Captain Mc- 
Glassin, of the 15th infantry, obtained permission from Gen- 
eral Macomb to take a party of fifty men and attack a 
detachment of British troops at work upon the battery. The 
night was dark and stormy and favored such an enterprise. 
Ordering his men to take the flints from their muskets, Mc- 
Glassin crossed the river, and passing through a small clump 
of dwarf oaks, reached, unobserved, the foot of the hill upon 
which the enemy were at work. There he divided his 
force into two parties, one of which was sent, by a circuit- 
ous route, to the rear of the battery. As soon as this party 
had reached its position, McGlassin, in a loud voice, ordered 
his men to charge " on the front and rear," when they 



1 The Burlington Sentinel says that up to the evening of the 8t]i 
the following buildings had been burned : Jonathan Griffin's house 
and store ; Roswell Wait's house and store ; Mr. Savage's house ; 
B. Buck's house; Mr. Powers's store; Widow Beaumont's house 
and store ; Charles Backus's house and store ; Joseph Thomas's two 
stores, and Mr. Goldsmith's house. The court house and jail were 
also burned. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 225 

rushed forward with all the noise it was possible for them 
to make, and entered the work at both sides on the run. The 
working party were taken by surprise, and supposing them- 
selves attacked by overwhelming numbers, retreated pre- 
cipitately towards the main camp. McGlassin spiked the guns 
and led his party back to the American fort without losing 
a man. The whole affair was boldly conceived and most 
gallantly executed. It was long before the British officers 
would believe that fifty men could make so much noise, or 
so badly frighten over three hundred of their veteran troops. 

When the British army reached Plattsburgh their gun- 
boats had advanced as far as the Isle la Motte, where they 
remained under command of Captain Pring. On the 8th 
Captain Downie reached that place with the rest of the fleet, 
and on the morning of the 11th the whole weighed anchor 
and stood south to attack the Americans, who lay in the bay 
off Plattsburgh. 

As the British vessels rounded Cumberland Head, about 
eight o'clock in the morning, they found Macdonough at 
anchor a little south of the mouth of the Saranac River, and 
abreast, but out of gun shot of the forts. His vessels lay in 
a line running north from Crab Island, and nearly parallel 
with the west shore. The brig Eagle, Captain Henly, lay 
at the head of the line, inside the point of the Head. This 
vessel mounted twenty guns and had on board one hundred 
and fifty men. Next to her and on the south lay Macdon- 
ough's flag ship, the Saratoga, mounting twenty-six guns, 
with two hundred and twelve men. Next south was the 
schooner Ticonderoga, of seventeen guns. Lieutenant Cassin, 
with one hundred and ten men, and next to her, and at the 
southern extremity of the line, lay the sloop Preble, Lieuten- 
ant Charles Budd. This vessel carried seven guns and was 
manned by thirty men. She lay so near the shoal extending 
29 



226 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

north-east from Crab Island, as to prevent the enemy from 
turning that end of the line. To the rear of the line were 
ten gun-boats, six of which mounted one long twenty-four 
pounder and one eighteen pound columbiad each ; the other 
four carried one twelve pounder. The gun-boats had, on 
an average, thirty-five men each. Two of the gun-boats lay 
a little north and in rear of the Eagle, to sustain the head 
of the line ; the others were placed opposite the intervals 
between the different vessels, and about forty rods to their 
rear. The gun-boats were kept in position by their sweeps. 
The British fleet was composed of the frigate Confiance, 
carrying thirty-seven guns,i with over three hundred men, 
commmanded by Caj)tain Downie ; the brig Linnet, Captain 
Pring, of sixteen guns and one hundred and twenty men ; 
the sloop Chub, Lieutenant McGhee, and the sloop Finch, 
Lieutenant Hicks, each carrying eleven guns and about forty- 
five men. To these vessels were added twelve gun-boats of 
about forty-five men each. Eight of them carried two guns, 
and four, one gun each. Thus the force of the Americans 
consisted of one ship, one brig, one schooner, one sloop and 
ten gun-boats, manned by eight hundred and eighty-two men, 
and carrying in all eighty-six guns. The British had one 
frigate, one brig, two sloops and twelve gun-boats, manned 
by over one thousand men, and carrying in all ninety-five guns. 
The metal of the vessels on both sides was unusually heavy. 
The Saratoga mounted eight long twenty-fours, six forty- 
twos, and twelve thirty-twos, while the Confiance had the 
gun-deck of a heavy frigate, with thirty long twenty-fours 
upon it. She also had a spacious top gallant forecastle, and 
a poop that came no further forward than the mizen mast. 
On the first were a long twenty-four on a circle, and four heavy 



1 There were thirty-nine guns on board the Confiance, but two 
of them were not mounted. — Cooper. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 227 

carronades; two heavy carronadcs were mounted on tlie 
poop.^ 

When the British fleet appeared in sight the Finch led 
and kept in a course toward Crab Island, while the other 
vessels hove to opposite the point of Cumberland Head, to 
allow the gun-boats to come up, and to receive final instruc- 
tions as to the plan of attack. The vessels then filled and 
headed in towards the American fleet, passing inside of the 
point of Cumberland Head ; the Chub laying her course a 
little to windward of the Eagle, in order to support the Lin- 
net, which stood directly towards that vessel. Captain 
Downie had determined to lay the Confiance athwart the 
Saratoga, but the wind bafiiing, he was obliged to anchor at 
about two cables length from that ship.- The Finch, which 
had run about half way to Crab Island, tacked and took her 
station, with the gun-boats, opposite the Ticouderoga and 
Preble. 



1 Cooper's NavalHistory. Mr. Alison [Ilistory of England, vol. 
IV) says ; 

" The relative strength of the squadron on this, as in every 
other naval action during the war where the British were defeated, 
was decidedly in favor of the Americans" — a statement unwar- 
ranted by the facts, and unnecessary to sustain the high reputa- 
tion of the British navy. The following are the number and size 
of the guns used on both fleets. 

AMERICAN. BRITISH. 

14 long 24 pounders. 31 long 24 pounders. 

6 42 pound carronades, 7 18 " 
29 .32 " " IG 12 «' 
12 long 18 pounders. 5 6 " 

12 " 12 " 12 32 pound carronades. 

7 " 9 " 6 24 " 
G 18 pound Columbiads. 17 18 " 

— 1 18 " Columbiad. 

86 guns. — 

95 guns. 

^2 Captain Pring's account of the battle, Sept. 12th, 1814. 



228 LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 

As the British vessels approached they received the fire 
of the American fleet ; the brig Eagle firing first, and 
being soon followed by the Saratoga and the sloop and 
schooner.^ The Linnet poured her broadside into the 
Saratoga as she passed that ship to take her position 
opposite the Eagle. Captain Downie brought his vessel 
into action in the most gallant manner, and did not fire 
a gun until he was perfectly secured, although his vessel suf- 
fered severely from the fire of the Americans. As soon, 
however, as the Confiance had been brought into position she 
discharged all her larboard guns at nearly the same instant. 
The efi"ect of this broadside, thrown from long twenty-four 
pounders, double shotted, in smooth water, was terrible. 
The Saratoga trembled to her very keel ; about forty of 
her crew were disabled, including her first lieutenant, 
Mr. Gamble, who was killed while sighting the bow gun. 

Soon after the commencement of the engagement, the 
Chub, while manoeuvering near the head of the American 
line, received a broadside from the Eagle which so crippled 
her that she drifted down between the opposing vessels and 
struck. She was taken possession of by Mr. Charles Piatt, 
one of the Saratoga's midshipmen, and was towed in shore 
and anchored. The Chub had sufi"ered severely, nearly 
half of her men having been killed or wounded. About 



1 The first gun fired on board the Saratoga was a long twenty- 
four, which Macdonough himself sighted. The shot is said to 
have struck the Confiance near the outer hawse hole, and to have 
passed the length other deck, killing and wounding several men, 
and carrying away the wheel. In clearing the decks of the 
Saratoga, some hen coops were thrown overboard and the poultry 
permitted to run at large. Startled by the report of the opening 
gun of the Eagle, a young cock flew upon a gun slide, clapped 
his wings and crowed. The men gave three cheers and considered 
the little incidence as a happy omen. — Cooper's Naval History, and 
Niles's Weekly Register. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 229 

an hour later the Finch was driven from her position by 
the Ticonderoga, and being badly injured, drifted upon the 
shoal near Crab Island, where she grounded. After being 
fired into from the small battery on the island, she struck 
and was taken possession of by the invalids who manned the 
battery. 1 

After the loss of the Finch the British gun-boats made 
several efi"orts to close, and succeeded in compelling the 
sloop Preble to cut her cables and to anchor in shore of the 
line, where she was of no more service during the engage- 
ment. The gun-boats, emboldened by this success, now 
directed their efi"orts towards the Ticonderoga, against which 
they made several very gallant assaults, bringing the boats, 
upon two or three occasions, within a few feet of the 
schooner's side. They were, however, as often beaten back, 
and the schooner, during the remainder of the day, com- 
pletely covered that extremity of the line. 

While these changes were taking place at the lower end 
of the line a change was also made at the other extremity. 
The Eagle, having lost her springs and finding herself 



iMr. Alison [History of England, vol. IV), referring to this event, 
says ; " The Finch, a British briy, grounded out of shot and did 
no< en^fff^c; " and again, " The Finch struck on a reef of rocks 
and could not get into action." Had Mr. Alison examined 
Captain Pring's ofiicial account of the engagement he would have 
found in it the following statement: " Lieutenant Hicks, of the 
Finch, had the mortification to strike on a reef of rocks, to the 
eastward of Crab Island, about the middle of the engagement, 
which prevented his rendering that assistance to the squadron 
that might, from an officer of such ability, have been expected." 
It is very convenient for the English historian to convert a small 
sloop of eleven guns and forty men into a briij, and to keep that 
large vessel out of the action altogether ; but as I have before said 
such statements are unnecessary to preserve the well earned 
reputation of the British navy for bravery or gallantry in action. 



230 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

exposed to the fire of botli the Linnet and Confiance, 
dropped down and anchored between the Saratoga and 
Ticouderoga, and a little in shore of both. From this 
position she opened afresh on the Confiance and the British 
gun-boats, with her larboard guns. This change relieved 
the brig, but left the Saratoga exposed to the whole fire of 
the Linnet, which sprung her broadsides in such a manner 
as to rake the ship on her bows. 

The fire from the Saratoga and Confiance now began ma- 
terially to lessen, as gun after gun on both vessels became 
disabled, until at last the Saratoga had not a single availa- 
ble gun, and the Confiance was but little better off". It there- 
fore became necessary that both vessels should wind, to 
continue the action with any success. This the Saratoga did 
after considerable delay, but the Confiance was less fortunate, 
as the only efi'ect of her efforts was to force the vessel ahead. 
As soon as the Saratoga came around she poured a fresh 
broadside from her larboard guns into the Confiance, which 
stood the fire for a few minutes and then struck. The ship 
then brought her guns to bear on the Linnet, which surren- 
dered in about fifteen minutes afterwards. At this time the 
British gun-boats lay half a mile in the rear, where they 
had been driven by the sharp fire of the Ticonderoga and 
Eagle. These boats lowered their colors as soon as they 
found the larger vessels had submitted, but not being pur- 
sued, for the American gun-boats were sent to aid the Con- 
fiance and Linnet which were reported to be in a sinking 
condition, they escaped together with a store sloop which 
lay near the point of Cumberland Head during the battle. 

The engagement continued for two hours and a half, and 
was the most severely fought naval battle of the war. The 
Saratoga had twenty-eight men killed and twenty-nine 
wounded; the Eagle thirteen killed and twenty wounded ; 
the Ticonderotrasis killed and six wounded, and the Preble 



MACDONOUGH'S VICTOEY ON LAKE CHAMPLAm, 
September 11th, 1814. 



Posifion of the Vessels after the Battle. 




LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 233 

two killed. The loss on the gun-boats was three killed and 
three wounded. Total killed and wounded, one hundred 
and ten, being equal to every eighth man in the fleet. Se- 
sides, the Saratoga had been hulled fifty-five times and was 
twice on fire ; the Eagle was hulled thirty-nine times. The 
carnage and destruction had been as great on the other side. 
The Confiance had forty-one men killed and eighty-three 
wounded ; the Linnet reported her casualties at ten killed 
and fourteen wounded, but the killed and wounded probably 
exceeded fifty; the Chub was reported at six killed and ten 
wounded, and the Finch at two wounded. No account is 
given of the loss on the gun-boats, but, from their close and 
severe contest with the Ticonderoga, it must have been large. 
The total of killed and wounded on the British side was 
equal to at least one fifth of the whole number of men in 
their fleet. The Confiance had been hulled one hundred and 
five times. So severe had been the contest, that at the close 
of the action there was not a mast in either fleet fit for use.i 
Among those killed on the side of the British were Captain 
Downie, who fell soon after the action commenced, Captain 
Alexander Anderson, of the marines, Midshipman William 
Gunn, of the Confiance, and Lieutenant William Paul and 
Boatswain Charles Jackson, of the Linnet. Among the 
-wounded were Midshipman Lee, of the Confiance, Midship- 
man John Sinclair, of the Linnet, and Lieutenant James 
McGhee, of the Chub. The American officers killed were 
Peter Gamble, 1st Lieutenant of the Saratoga, John Stans- 



1 " I could only look at the enemy's galleys going off, in a shat- 
tered condition ; for there was not a mast in either squadron that 
could stand to make sail on; the lower rigging being nearly all 
shot away, hung down as though it had been just placed over the 
mast heads." — 3Iacdonouffh's Report of the battle. "Our masts, 
yards and sails were so shattered, that one looked like so many 
bunches of matches, and the other like a bundle of rags. " — Letter 
of 3Iidshipman Lee, of the Confiance. 

30 



234 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

bury, 1st Lieutenant of the Ticonderoga, Midshipman James 
M. Baldwin and Sailing Master Rogers Carter. Referring 
to the death of three of these officers, Mr. Cooper, in his 
History of the Navy, says: — "Lieutenant Gamble was on 
his knees, sighting the bow-gun, when a shot entered the 
port, split the quoin, drove a portion of it against his breast 
and laid him dead on the quarter deck without breaking his 
skin. Fifteen minutes later one of the American shots struck 
the muzzle of a twenty-four on the Confiance, dismounted it, 
sending it bodily inboard against the groin of Captain Dow- 
nie, killing him also without breaking the skin. Lieutenant 
Stansbury suddenly disappeared from the bulwarks forward, 
while superintending some duty with the springs of the Ti- 
conderoga. Two days after the action his body rose to the 
surface of the water, and it was found that it had been cut 
in two by a round shot." 

It is said that scarcely an individual escaped on board of 
either the Confiance or Saratoga without some injury. 
Macdonough was twice knocked down ; once by the spanker- 
boom, which was cut in two by a shot and fell upon his 
back, as he was bending his body to sight a gun ; and again 
by the head of a gunner, which was driven against him, and 
knocked him into the scuppers. Mr. Brum, the sailing mas- 
ter of the Saratoga, had his clothes torn oif by a splinter, 
while winding the ship. Mr. Vallette, acting Lieutenant, 
had a shot-box, on which he was standing, knocked from 
under his feet, and he too was once knocked down by the 
head of a seaman. It appears to have been agreed on both 
sides to call no man wounded who could keep out of the 
hospital. 1 Midshipman Lee, of the Confiance, who was 
wounded in the action, thus describes the condition of that 
vessel. " The havoc on both sides is dreadful. I don't think 



Cooper's Naval History. 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 235 

there are more than five of our men, out of three hundred, 
but what are killed or wounded. Never was a shower of 
hail so thick, as the shot whistling about our ears. Were 
you to see my jacket, waist-coat and trowsers, you would be 
astonished how I escaped as I did, for they are literally torn 
all to rags with shot and splinters ; the upper part of my hat 
was also shot away. There is one of our marines who was 
in the Trafalgar action with Lord Nelson, who says it was a 
mere flea-hite in comparison withthis."i 

As soon as the British fleet were observed approaching 
Cumberland Head, on the morning of the 11th, Sir George 
Provost ordered General Power's brigade, and a part of 
General Robinson's brigade, consisting of four companies 
of light infantry, and the 3d battalions of the 27th and 76th, 
to force the fords of the Saranac, and to assault the Ameri- 
can works. The advance was made, and the batteries were 
opened, the moment the action on the lake commenced. 

The British attempted to cross the river at three points ; 
at the village bridge, wh^re they were repulsed by the 
artillery and guards under Captains Brooks, Richards and 
Smith; at the upper bridge, where they were foiled by 
the pickets and riflemen, under Captain Grovenor and 
Lieutenants Hamilton and Smith, supported by a detach- 
ment of militia ; and at the ford near Pike's cantonment, 
where they were resisted by the New York militia, under 
Major General Mooers and Brigadier General Wright. At 
this latter point several companies succeeded in crossing, dri- 

1 Letter to his brother, published in Mies' s Register, vol. VIII. The 
result of the engagement depended, from the first, upon the Sara- 
toga and Confiance. When Macdonough anchored his vessel he 
not only attached springs to the cables, but also laid a kedge 
broad off on each bow of the Saratoga, and brought the hawsers 
in upon the two quarters. To this timely precaution he was in- 
debted for the victory, for without the larboard hawser he could 
not have brought his fresh broadside into action. 



236 LAKE CSAMPLAIN. 

ving the militia before them towjirds Salmon River. The 
British advanced, firing by platoons, but with such careless- 
ness of aim as to do but little injury. i At Salmon River 
the militia were joined by a large detachment of the Ver- 
mont volunteers, and were soon afterwards reinforced by 
Lieutenant Sumpter, with a party of artillery and a field- 
piece. Here they rallied and were drawn up to meet the 
attack of the British troops, who were rapidly approach- 
ing. Just at this moment an officer- rode up to the ran ks, 
proclaiming the welcome intelligence that the British fleet 
had surrendered. With three hearty cheers the militia 
immediately pressed forward against the enemy, who, having 
been at the same moment recalled, were now rapidly retiring 
toward the ford. In their retreat a company of the 76th 
lost their way among the thick pines, where they were 
surrounded and attacked by several companies of militia 
and Vermont volunteers. Three Lieutenants and twenty- 
seven men were made prisoners, and Captain Purchase and 
the rest of the company killed.-' The rest of the British 
detachment regained the north bank of the Saranac without 
much loss.* 



^I have conversed with several who boast of their activity during 
this retreat, and who felt a personal interest in the subject at the 
time, and they all state that the balls, at each volley, struck the 
pine trees at least fifteen feet from the ground. 

2 Chancellor Walworth, then aid-de-camp to Major General 
Mooers. 

3 It is said Captain Purchase was shot down while waving a 
handkerchief over his head as a notice that he had surrendered. 

*Sir George Provost, in his account of the battle, says: "Scarcely 
had his majesty's troops forced a passage across the Saranac and 
ascended the heights on wliich stand the American 2vorks," &c. — This 
would imply that the British had gained ground near the forts, but 
such was not the case. They crossed nearly two miles above the 
forts, and followed the militia/;-o?«, instead of towards the Ameri- 
can works. 



LAKE CUAMFLAIN. 237 

Although no further attempt was made to cross the river, 
the British batteries continued their fire upon the American 
works until sun-down. This fire was returned by the guns of 
Fort Brown, which were managed during the day with great 
skill, by Captain Alexander Brooks and the corps of veteran 
artillery under his command. 

Sir Greorge Provost had now under his command over 
thirteen thousand troops, more than half of whom had served 
with distinction under Wellington, while the American force 
did not exceed fifteen hundred regulars fit for duty, two 
thousand five hundred Vermont volunteers, under Major 
General Strong, six hundred of whom had just arrived, and 
General Wright's brigade of Clinton and Essex militia, seven 
hundred strong, under command of Major General Mooers. 
With his superior force Provost could have forced the 
passage of the Saranac, and have crushed Macomb by the 
mere weight of numbers. But the victory would have been 
attended with great sacrifice of life, and would have led 
to no permanent advantage to the British. Macdonough 
was in command of the lake; reinforcements of regulars 
were hastening to the support of Macomb; the militia were 
rising en masse in every quarter, and within two weeks 
Provost would have been surrounded, his supplies from Can- 
ada cut off", and an only alternative left to force his way 
back with the loss of half his army, or to have surrendered. 
In a dispatch to Earl Bathurst, after referring to the loss of 
the fleet, he says: "This unlocked for event depriving me 
of the cooperation of the fleet, without which the further 
prosecution of the service was become impracticable, I did 
not hesitate to arrest the course of the troops advancing to 
the attack, because the most complete success would have 
been unavailing; and the possession of the enemy's works 
off'ered no advantage to compensate for the loss we must 
have sustained in acquiring possession of them. 



238 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

This was a just and merited compliment to the skill and 
bravery of the American regulars and militia. The former 
were few in number, but resolute and unflinching. Among 
the latter the greatest enthusiasm now prevailed. They had 
become accustomed to the " smell of powder," and animated 
by the recollection of Macdonough's victory, were ready to 
oppose any force that might attempt the passage of the Sa- 
ranac. It is due to the patriotism of the citizens of Vermont 
to mention the fact, that as soon as Grovernor Chittenden re- 
ceived information from Greneral Macomb of the invasion 
by the enemy, he issued a spirited address, calling on the 
Vermont militia to rally to the aid of their countrymen on 
the opposite side of the lake. This address was most nobly 
responded to, for when the requisition of the president for a 
reinforcement of two thousand militia reached the governor, 
he replied that the order had not only been anticipated, but 
far exceeded, by the voluntary enrollment of his fellow citi- 
zens. The same enthusiasm pervaded the militia on the 
New York side. When Major General Mooers's orders were 
received for the militia of Warren and Washington counties 
to assemble and march to the frontier, there appeared under 
arms two hundred and fifty men more than had ever mus- 
tered at an inspection or review. 

Acting upon the considerations stated in his dispatch to 
Earl Bathurst, Sir George Provost prepared for an instant 
and hasty retreat. As soon as the sun went down he dis- 
mantled hia batteries, and, at 9 o'clock at night, sent off 
his heavy baggage and artillery, which were quickly followed 
by the main army; the rear guard, consisting of a light 
brigade, started a little before day-break, leaving behind 
them vast quantities of provisions, tents, camp equipage, 
ammunition, &c. The sick and wounded were also left 
behind, consigned to the generosity and humane care of 
General Macomb. So silent and rapid was the retreat, that 



LAKE CEAMPLAIN. 239 

the main army had passed through Beekmantown before 
its absence was known in the American camp. The light 
troops, vohmteers and militia were immediately sent in 
pursuit. They followed the retiring column as far as 
Chazy, and took a few prisoners. The roads were muddy, 
and very heavy at the time, which not only prevented 
further pursuit, but delayed Provost's retreat. The last 
of the British army did not leave Champlain until the 
24th. 

General Macomb, in his returns, states the number of 
killed, wounded and missing of the regular force under 
his command, during the skirmishes and bombardment, at 
one hundred and twenty-three. The only commissioned 
officer killed was Lieutenant George W. Runk, of the 6th 
reo-iment, who was severely wounded on the 7th and died 
the next day. The loss among the volunteers and militia 
was small. That of the British has never been correctly 
ascertained. Their accounts fix the casualties of the ex- 
pedition at under two hundred killed and wounded, and 
four hundred lost by desertion. This, however, is far below 
the true number. At the time, the American officers 
believed the total loss of the British, from the time they 
first crossed the lines until they again entered Canada, in 
killed, wounded and prisoners, and by desertion, was over 
two thousand men. Seventy-five prisoners were taken, i 

1 The following list of British officers killed or wounded during 
the invasion, was published in the London Gazette of the 19th 
and 26th November, 1814. 

Killed. — Captain (Brevet Lieut. Col.) .Tames Willington and 
Ensign John Chapman, of the 3d Buffs. Captain John Purchase, 
76th regiment, foot. 

Wounded. — Captain T. Crosse, A. D. C. (slightly) ; Lieut. R. 
Kingsbury, severely (since dead) ; Lieut. John West (severely) ; 
Lieutenants Benson and Holmes (slightly) ; all of the 3d Buffs. 
Captain L. Westropp (severely,) ; Lieut. C. Brohier and Adjutant 
Lewis (slightly) ; of the 58th regiment, foot. 



240 LAKE CIIAMPLAIN. 

On the 12tli tlie Vermont volunteers returned home, and 
on the 13th the New York militia were disbanded by 
General Macomb, and orders issued countermanding the 
march of thousands who were flocking to the frontier. 

On the morning of the loth of September the remains of 
the lamented Gamble, Stansbury, Baldwin, Carter 
and Barron were placed in separate boats, which, manned 
by crews from their respective vessels, proceeded to the 
Confinance, where they were joined by the British officers, 
with the bodies of Downie, Anderson, Paul, Gunn and 
Jackson. At the shore of the lake the procession was 
joined by a large concourse of the military and citizens of 
Plattsburgh, who accompanied the bodies to the village 
burial ground. Near the centre of the grave-yard, beneath 
the shade of two pines, now rest the ashes of those gallant 
officers. The sailors and marines who fell in the engage- 
ment were buried on Crab Island, side by side in one 
common grave. 

With the battle of Plattsburgh closed all active operations 
upon the Champlain frontier. For several months, however, 
the inhabitants were kept in a state of alarm, as it was 
rumored that the British authorities contemplated another 
campaign. Major General 3Iooers, of New York, and 
Major General Strong, of Vermont, ordered their respective 
divisions of militia to hold themselves in readiness for 
active service. General Macomb remained at Plattsburgh 
with a small force, and caused two redoubts to be thrown 
up a short distance to the south of Fort Moreau, which he 
named Fort Tompkins and Fort Gaines. 

The treaty of Ghent was signed on the 24th of December, 
1814, and, on the 17th of February following, was ratified 
by the United States senate. With the publication of this 
treaty all fears of further hostilies ceased. 



APPENDIX. 



AN A ceo JJNT of the Celebration of the Annioersary of 
the Battle of Plattsburgh, hythe Citizens of Plattshurgh 
and the Clinton Countj Mititary Association^ Septem- 
ber \lth, 1843. 

At a meeticg of the Clinton county Military association, 
held on the 21st- of August, 1843, it was, on motion of 
Major A. A. Prescott, 

Resolved, That this association do celebrate, in some 
appropriate manner, the anniversary of the Battle of Platts- 
burgh on the eleventh of September next. 

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to confer 
with the trustees of the village, and make arrangements 
for the celebration. 

Maj. Gen. Skinner, Brig. Gen. Halsey and Col. Moore 
were appointed said committee. 

The following named gentlemen were duly appointed a 
committee on the part of the citizens to confer with the 
committee of the Military association in making the neces- 
sary arrangements for the proper celebration of the day : 

William F. Haile, Moss K. Piatt, D. B. McNeil, C. S. 
Mooers, R. A. Gilman, G. M. Beckwith, G. W. Palmer, S. 
Couch, Benj. Ketchum, R. A. Weed, J. Bailey, Peter S. 
Palmer, T. Deforris, William H. Morgan, J. W. Tuttle. 
31 



242 LAKE CBAMPLAIN. 

At a meeting of tlic joint committee of arrangements, 
Col. D. B. McNeil (who was acting assistant adjutant 
general of the militia forces at Plattsburgh, in Sept., 1814) 
was designated to act as president of the day, and the fol- 
lowing resolutions were adopted : 

Resolved^ That the citizens of Plattsburgh, in connection 
with such other persons as may unite with them, will, on the 
11th ofSeptember, instantly proceed to the erection of plain 
marble monuments to mark the several spots where rest the 
mortal remains of the American and British officers who 
fell at the memorable battle of Plattsburgh. 

Resolved, That R. A. Grilman, George Moore and Roby 
Gr. Stone be a committee to procure the monuments and make 
the necessary arrangements to carry out the foregoing reso- 
lution. 

Resolved, That Brig. Gen. Wool, and Lt. Col. B. Riley, of 
the U. S. A.rmy, be requested to unite with the citizens and 
military of this place, in the proposed celebration, and the 
erection of the monuments above mentioned. 

Resolved, That Gen. Skinner, Gen. Halsey, and Col. R. G. 
Stone be the committee of invitation. 

Resolutions were also passed inviting the United States 
Officers and troops stationed at this post, the surviving officers 
and soldiers of the regular army, the Clinton and Essex 
militia, and the Vermont volunteers who participated in the 
events of that time, to unite with us in the proposed celebra- 
tion. 

In accordance with the above arrangements, the anniver- 
sary of the battle of Plattsburgh was celebrated in an 
appropriate manner by the Clinton county Military associa- 
tion and the citizens of Plattsburgh and its vicinity generally, 
on Monday last. General Wool and suite, and several other 
gentlemen who were in the battle of the 11th, were present 
by special invitation. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 243 

The procession was formed at Fouquet's Hotel at 10 
o'clock, under the direction of Gen. C. Halsey, chief marshal, 
assisted by Messrs. C. S. Mooers, Gr. W. Palmer and R. G. 
Stone, escorted by the United States troops at this post, under 
the command of Capt. C. A. Waite, and moved to the park, 
in front of the court house, where an able and patriotic 
address was delivered by Col. A. C. Moore, to a large and 
attentive audience of ladies and gentlemen. 

After the address the procession was again formed and 
moved to the burying ground, where a square was formed by 
the U. S. troops and the Military association, around the un- 
marked graves of those who fell in the battle of Plattsburgh. 

After a prayer by the Rev. Mr. Witherspoon, and an ad- 
dress by Gen. Skinner, the president of the day (Col. McNiel) 
said : 

"Fellow citizens: The president of the day has desig- 
nated our distinguished guest. Brigadier General Wool, of 
the United States army, who commanded the detachment 
of American regular troops opposed to that division of the 
British army which advanced upon Plattsburgh by the 
Beekmantown Road, on the Gth of September, 1814, to erect 
a monument at the head of the grave of Col. Willington, of 
the 3d regiment of British Buffs, who gallantly fell at the 
head of his regiment at Culver's Hill, on the Beekmantown 
Road, in the memorable battle of the 6th of September, 
1814. 

"The division of the British army in which the brave and 
lamented Willington fell, was not less than 4,000 strong; 
and when we take into view the fact that General Wool 
(then a major), with a light corps of but 250 regular truops 
all told, contested every inch of ground with this formidable 
force in their descent upon Plattsburgh, the selection of 
General Wool to perform the melancholy duty assigned to 
Hm cannot fail to give deep interest to the solemn occasion 



244 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

which brought us together upon this hallowed spot. Noth- 
ing can be more appropriate than that" the monument about 
to be erected should be raised by the hand of an ofl&cer who 
bore an honorable and conspicuous part in the events of the 
memorable day on which the gallant "VVillington fell. It is 
a pleasing spectacle to see the living brave doing honor to 
the memory of the illustrious dead." 

Gen. Wool proceeded to discharge the duty assigned him, 
and said : 

" Fellow citizens and soldiers : The duty assigned me 
by the president of the day, in behalf of the citizens of Platts- 
burgh and the Military association of the county of Clinton, 
is no less gratifying to me than it is honorable and magnan- 
imous to its authors, and will furnish an example worthy of 
imitation for all time to come. It is not less a holy and pious 
oflPering to the illustrious dead, than the offspring of noble 
and generous hearts to a fallen foe, and will furnish themes 
of praise to the end of time. It will be a healing balm to 
the wounded hearts of relatives and friends whilst it will 
not fail to call forth from every Briton who passes this conse- 
crated spot, tears of gratitude as well as tears of sympathy. 

"With these brief remarks, I now erect, in behalf of the 
citizens of Plattsburgh and the Military association of Clin- 
ton county, this monument to the memory of Colonel Wil- 
lington, who fell the 6th of September, 1814, at Culver's 
Hill, leading to the charge the advance of the British army 
marching on Plattsburgh.'' 

The President of the day said : 

" Fellow citizens : Our esteemed fellow citizen. Judge Haile, 
late a captain in the United States army, will now proceed 
to place monuments at the respective graves of Captain Pur- 
chase, late of the British army, Lieut. Hunk, late of the Gth 
regiment United States infantry, and Ensign John Chapman, 
late of the 3d Buffs." 



LAKE UEAMPLAIN. 245 

Tlie president of tlie day, in designating Judge Haile to 
perform the duty assigned to him, did so from a full know- 
ledge of the fact, that no officer of his rank ever left the 
army of the United States with a higher and more enviable 
reputation as a fearless and fighting of&cer, than did Captain 
Haile. 

Judge Haile proceeded to the duty assigned him with 
suitable remarks. 

The President of the day then said : 

" Fellow citizens : To Colonels Miller and Manley, and 
Maj. Gen. Skinner, all of whom bore a distinguished part in 
the battles of Beekmantown and Plattsburgh, is assigned the 
honor of erecting monuments to the memory of Lieutenant 
Peter Gamble, United States navy, John Stansbury, United 
States navy, and Midshipman James M. Baldwin, United 
States navy." 

The gentlemen above mentioned proceeded to discharge 
the duty assigned them, accompanied by appropriate re- 
marks. 

The President said : 

" To our esteemed fellow citizen, Piatt R. Halsted Esq., 
late a Lieutenant in the United States army, I assign the 
honor of placing monuments at the*graves of Captain Al- 
exander Anderson, of the British marines; Lieutenant Wil- 
liam Paul, midshipman ; William Gunn and Boatswain 
Charles Jackson, of the British navy, and Joseph Barron, 
pilot on board Commodore Macdonough's ship — all of 
whom fell in the naval engagement in Cumberland Bay, off 
Plattsburgh, on the 11th of September, 1814. 

" Joseph Barron, pilot, was personally known to Lieut. 
Halsted and myself, and was a man held in high estimation 
for his intelligence and patriotism by all who had the 
pleasure of his acquaintance." 



246 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

Lieut. Halsted, in the discharge of the duty assigned 
him, erected the monuments at the head of the graves of 
the three lieutenants of the British navy, and proceeded to 
the grave of Joseph Barron, and as near as we could catch 
his remarks, spoke as follows : 

" I take a melancholy pleasure in erecting this monument 
at the head of the grave of Joseph Barron, Commodore 
Macdonough's confidential pilot. I knew him well — he 
was about my own age — we were school boys together — a 
warmer hearted or a braver man never trod the deck of a 
ship." 

Lieut. Springer, late of the United States army, was 
designated by the president of the day, to erect the monu- 
ment at the head of the grave of Sailing Master Rogers 
Carter, United States navy, and proceeded to discharge 
that duty. 

A benediction was then pronounced by Rev. Mr. Wither- 
spoon, and the procession returned to Fouquet's Hotel, where 
the committee of arrangements, the invited guests and the 
Military association partook of an excellent dinner, got up 
in Fouquet's best style. 

Among the sentiments offered on this occasion was the 
following by Greneral Skinner : 

Brig. General Wool, United States army — the hero of 
Beekmautown as well as Queenstown. 

"His laurels are green, though his locks are gray." 

General Wool, with much feeling, responded to this sen- 
timent as follows : 

" Mr. President : I rise with a heart overflowing with 
gratitude to respond to the sentiment just given by my 
friend at the other end of the table. I find it impossible, 
however, filled as I am with emotion, to make a speech, or 
give utterance to my feelings in a manner worthy of the 
occasion. Were it otherwise, I could say but little that 



LAKE CEAMPLAiy. 247 

has not already been said. I miglit speak of the campaigns 
of 1812 and '13, which closed with the most gloomy 
forebodings. I might also speak of the campaigns of 1814, 
when the mantle of darkness was cast off, and a blaze of 
light shone forth along the frontier from Fort Erie to 
Plattsburgh, and finally closed, with a brilliancy seldom 
equalled, on the plains of New Orleans. But these periods 
have already been noticed and described in the most 
eloquent and stirring language. Therefore, little remains 
for me to add, could I give utterance to my feelings, but to 
express my warmest thanks for the kind partiality with 
which you have been pleased to allude to my services. I 
would, however, remark that although at one period of the 
war darkness and despondency appeared to pervade our 
beloved country, there was one bright spot exempt from the 
general gloom. It was here in this place, Plattsburgh, that 
the patriotic inhabitants never wavered nor quailed before 
the legions of Grreat Britain. They stood by their country 
in the darkest hour, and never failed to cheer and comfort 
the war worn soldier, and to receive him with open arms, 
whether he returned victorious, or was driven back by the 
force of circumstances. Who that was at Plattsburgh in 
1812, ' 13 and ' 14, does not remember with delight Mooers, 
Smith, Sailly, Delord, Bailey, Palmer and Ransom, all 
patriotic citizens and devoted friends of their country in 
war as well as in peace, but who now rest in the mansions 
of eternal bliss. With these few remarks, Mr. President, I 
would offer this sentiment — 

" The citizens of Plattsburgh and the Military association 
of Clinton county — This day attests their magnanimity 
and greatness of soul, by the homage paid to the illustrious 
dead who fell fighting the battles of their country." 



POSITION OF THE GEAVES, 



WITH THE INSCRIPTIONS ON THE MONUMENTS ERECTED SEPT. 11, 1&13. 

WEST. 



Lieut. 

G. W. EUNK, 

Gth Regt. U. S. 

Army, 8th Sept. 

1814. 



Colonel 

WrLLINGTON, 

3d Regt. Buffs, 

B. Army, 
Gth Sept. 1814. 



Ensign 

J. CHAPMAN, 

3d Buffs, 

B. Army, 

Gth Sept. 1814. 



Lieut. 

R. KINGSBURY, 

3d Buffs, 

B. Army. 

Gth Sept., 1814. 



Lieut. 

PETER GAMBLE, 

U. S. N. 
11th Sept. 1814. 



Lieut. 
John Staushury 

U. S. K 
11th Sept. 1814. 



Sailing Master 

ROGERS CARTER, 

U. S. N. 
11th Sept. 1814. 



Midshipman 

J. M. BALDWIN, 

U. S. N. 
11th Sept. 1814. 



Pilot 

.TOSEPM BARRON 

Ship Saratoga, 
11th Sept. 1814. 



SACRED 

to the memory of 

GEORGE DOWNIE,EsQ., 

A Post Captain in the Royal Brit. 
Navy, who i;loriouslv fell on 
board His B. M. S. t'lu' Con- 
fiance, while luading the 
vessels under his com- 
mand to the 
attack of the American Flotilla, 
at anchor in Cumberland Bay, 
off Plattsbur-^h, 
on the 11th September, 1814, 

To mark the spot where the remains 
of a gallant ofhcer and sincere 
friend were honorably interred, 

this stone has been erected by his 
affectionate Sistur-in-Law, 

MART DOWNIE. 



Boatswain 

CHAS. JACKSON, 

B. Navy. 
11th Sept. 1814. 



CAPT. PURCHASE 

76th Regt. 

B. Army. 

nth Sept. 1814. 



ALX. ANDERSON, 

Capt. Marines, 

B. Navy, 
nth Sept. 1814. 



Acting Lieut. 

WILLIAM PAUL, 

B. Navy, 
nth Sept. 1814. 



Midshipman 

WILLIAM GUNN, 

B. Navy, 
nth Sept. 1814. 



EAST. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 249 



Anecdotes of the Battle of PlattshurgJi. 
The following anecdotes are copied from Niks' s Weeldy 
Register^ vol. VIII. 

The wounded of both fleets and our army, the same even- 
ing, were landed at our cantonment on the island. The enemy 
was' not neglected; prompt assistance was indiscriminately 
rendered. Those who had but one hour previous been deadly 
* foes, now lodged by each other's side, like brothers and 
friends, giving and receiving the tenderest words of con- 
solation. 

It is as true that Macdonough is religous, as that he is 
a brave man. He made a most appropriate -prayer over the 
dead, previous to their interment. The following anecdote 
will interest you. At the moment the British were bearing 
down, an officer asked permission of the commodore to issue 
an extra ration of grog to the men. " No," was the reply, 
" my men shall go cool into action, excited by no stimu- 
lus except their native valor." 

On the 11th September, after the British column, which 
crossed the Saranac, had broken, and the men were making 
the best of their way back, Hazen Mooers and Mr. Brooks 
and Stafford pursued a party of the enemy's light troops, 
double their number, for nearly two miles, keeping up a 
constant fire upon them, which they returned occasionally. 
At lenoth the British party hesitated about the course they 
were i^ursuing, and our men told them they were lost and 
called upon them to surrender, which they consented to after 
obtaining a pledge from the militiamen that they should be 
well treated. Scarcely had the captors made their disposition 
forbrin-ing in their prize, when two other British soldiers 
came ba°ck and commenced a fire on them, reproaching their 
32 



250 LAKE CHAMPLAm. 

comrades for having, five of tliem completely equipped, sur- 
rendered to three militia riflemen. With five prisoners in 
custody, who might attempt to retake themselves, encum- 
hered with the equipment of their captives, and no aid within 
reach, our riflemen were eager only to get ofi" with the 
prisoners ; but the soldiers were so obstinate in the pursuit, 
finding no resistance, that Mr. Staiford concealed himself 
and waited their near aproach, when he gave one of the 
soldiers a deadly shot, and the other relinquished the pursuit. 
The prisoners, a corporal and four men, were brought in 
to General Mooers. 

On the same day, a few of our militia, conducted by Cap- 
tain Aiken, of Essex county, overtook a party who had 
Major Skinner, whom they had made prisoner — the party 
attempted to ford the river. When about halfway across, the 
men who held the major were shot down by his side — one 
of them held so fast to his sleeve as to tear ofi" the cufi" of 
his coat, and the current took them down the stream. Maj. 
Skinner, however, extricated himself and swam ashore. 
The residue of the party threw down their arms, and cried 
out, " For God's sake spare our lives." The firing ceased : 
Captain Aiken brought in several prisoners, and Major 
Skinner, whom he rescued from their hands. Major S. 
was previously robbed of his equipage and about one hun- 
dred dollars in money, which he did not recover. 

During the siege, Abel Chamberlin and Eli Lewis crossed 
the Saranac, and made an ofiieer prisoner. He was in a 
house about twenty rods from a British picket — they took 
him out of the back door, put one of their coats upon him, 
and piloted him through the woods to the upper bridge, 
and from thence to Salmon River, a distance of about twelve 
or fourteen miles. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 251 

On the morning of the 9th September, two citizens of 
the town found a soldier of the British army asleep in his 
tent, and made him prisoner. In coming into town they 
were joined by another citizen — none of them had arms: 
About a quarter of a mile west of the village they met three 
British soldiers, armed, going on to join the army. When 
within a few paces of each other, the citizens sprang upon 
the soldiers, disarmed and brought them in prisoners. In 
the affray, Mr. Samuel Norcross, a respectable, industrious 
citizen, was shot through the thigh, and expired in about two 
hours. Shelden Durkee and Ephraim Rand were the two 
other citizens. 

The following narrative of the death of Norcross is copied 
from an address delivered at Plattsburgh, September 11th, 
1843, by A. C. Moore Esq, 

It was on the morning of the 12th, that Shelden Durkee, 
Ephraim Rand and Samuel Norcross, entirely unarmed, 
met three British soldiers on the retreat, and simultaneously 
sprang upon them and seized their guns. A most despe- 
rate personal recontre ensued — a struggle for life. Rand 
and his antagonist, equally matched in point of strength, 
strained every sinew for the mastery, which neither could 
obtain ; Norcross sunk before the superior power of his 
adversary, who threw him on the ground and poured the 
blazing contents of his musket into his body, then turned 
from the dying Norcross and rushed upon the struggling 
Rand. At this critical moment, Durkee, who with a con- 
vulsive effort had wrenched his gun from the third soldier 
and stretched him upon the ground, prostrated the antagonist 
of Rand with its butt, and pointing its loaded muzzle at the 
other soldier compelled him to surrender. Then leaving 
Rand to bind up the wounds of poor expiring Norcross, the 
victorious Durkee marched his three prisoners into camp. 



t »;.o ~ - TT rr- I'^z - ~t - 

Ctcinber, I" 

Idse of ^ . . _r. 1TT€. The gnTikeii 

wreekf a: xnt vesseit are ye: xc r*e seen in Adam't Baj. in 
PanToL nearij opT'OSiEe Sari»er"£ Point. 

Ticondsroaa. October la. 1776. 
I>aB7 General; I make no doubi before •shif yon love 
leeeivec t eairr of ict ieiEer tc Greneral 'jaiet of "die 13l&. 
insmni. oaEec ai ScimrierE Island. adTisiitr of' an ae^tm 
beiw^eeii onr fieei and the enemx tiie preceding d^T. in viiieli 
we Jost £ sschooner and £ gondola. "We renjained no longer 
sr Scimjier s Isiand ihanic bioj out leaks, and mend lihe 
eaik of iie "Wasixinfrttni. Ai twc- c'eloek P. M.. iiieliixiL. 
weighed anebor -ritt £ fresh hreeae to xhe sorniirard. The 
enemjE fieei a: the same time sro: under "waj : otc gondola 
made verr little irar ahraid. It ihe evening the "wind mod- 
erated, and we made such i»ro«rres6 thai xi 6 c'eloei: next 
momini: we were abom of Wilisbec-oncL. twenTr-eifrh* miies 
from Ctowc Point. The eneffir't £eet vere -rerx Irctle wej 
above Schnjler'E Island: the ▼'ind breezed np to the eomh- 
ward. EC "&aT we gained "rerr little bj beaiinp or rowing, ax 
■&& Bame time the enemj took a fresh breeze from the 
norfli east, and vj the time we had reached Bplh Sock were 
alongside of' be. The TTaBhinfrton and CongresE were in 
Hui: rear : the reer of onr fieei vert ahead except two gon- 
dolas sunk ai Sehnyler'e Island. The TTashington gaLej 
wac ir such £ shatie^ed eondilioiL. and had so many men 
kOied and wounded, she struti to the enemy after receiTing 
£ few broadfiideE. "VTe were then attacked in the CongresE 
galley vj t. ehij mounting twelve eighteen pounderE. a 
echooiier of fourteen BiieE. and one of twelve sixeE. two 
under our stem, and one on our broadside witiiit musket 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. £53 

stot. They kept up an incessant fire on ns for about five 
glasses, with round and grape shot, which we returned as 
briskly. The sails, rigging and hull of the Congress were 
shattered and torn in pieces, the first lieutenant and three 
men killed, when to prevent her falling into the enemy's 
hands, who had seven sail around me, I ran her ashore in a 
small creek ten miles from Crown Point, on the east side, 
when, after saving our small arms, I set her on fire with 
four gondolas, with whose crews I reached Crown Point 
through the woods that evening, and very luckily escaped 
the savages, who waylaid the road in two hours after we 
passed. At four o'clock yesterday morning I reached this 
place, exceedingly fatigued and unwell, having been without 
sleep or refreshment for near three days. 

Of our whole fleet we have saved only two galleys, two 
small schooners, one gondola, and one sloop. General Wa- 
terbury, with one hundred and ten prisoners, were returned 
by Carleton last night. On board of the Congress we had 
twenty odd men killed and wounded. Our whole loss amounts 
to eighty odd. 

Tie enemy's fleet were last night three miles below 
Crown Point ; their army is doubtless at their heels. We 
are busily employed in completing our lines and redoubts, 
which I am sorry to say are not so forward as I could wish. 
We have very few heavy cannon, but are mounting every 
piece we have. It is the opinion of Gleneral Grates and St. 
Clair that eight or ten thousand militia should be immedi- 
ately sent to our assistance, if they can be spared from below. 
I am of opinion the enemy will attack us with their 
fleet and army ?,t the same time. The former is very formi- 
dable, a list of which I am favored with by General Water- 
bury, and have enclosed. The season is so far advanced, 
our people are daily growing more healthy. 



254 LAKE CHAMPLALN. 

We have about nine thousand effectives, and if properly 
supported, make no doubt of stopping the career of the 
enemy. All your letters to me of late have miscarried. I 
am extremely sorry to hear by General G-ates you are unwell. 
I have sent you by G-eneral Waterbury a small box containing 
all my publick and private papers, and accounts, with a 
considerable sum of hard and paper money, which beg the 
favor of your taking care of. 

I am, dear General, your most affectionate, humble ser- 
vant, B. Arnold. 

To Hon. Major General Schuyler. 

N. B. Two of the enemy's gondolas sunk by our fleet the 
first day, and one blown up with sixty men. 

Captain Thomas Pringle to Mr. Stephens, Secretary 
of the Admiralty . 

On hoard the Maria, off Crown Point, October 15, 1776. 

It is with the greatest pleasure that I embrace this oppor- 
tunity of congratulating their lordships upon the victory 
completed the 13th of this month, by his majesty's fleet 
under my command, upon Lake Champlain. 

Upon the 11th I came up with the rebel fleet commanded 
by Benedict Arnold ; they were at anchor under the Island 
Valcour, and formed a strong line, extending from the island 
to the west side of the continent. The wind was so unfavor- 
able, that, for a considerable time, nothing could be brought 
into action with them but the gun-boats. The Carleton 
schooner, commanded by Mr. Dacres, who brings their 
lordships this, by much perseverance, at last got to their 
assistance ; but as none of the other vessels of the fleet 
could then get up, I did not think it by any means advisable 
to continue so partial and unequal a combat ; consequently 
with the approbation of his excellency general Carleton, 
who did me the honor of being on board the Maria, I called 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 255 

oiF the Carleton and gun-boats, and brought the whole fleet 
to anchor in a line as near as possible to the rebels, that 
their retreat might be cut off, which purpose was, however, 
frustrated by the extreme obscurity of the night ; and in 
the morning the rebels had got a considerable distance from 
us up the lake. 

Upon the 13th I again saw eleven sail of their fleet making 
off to Crown Point, who, after a chase of seven hours, I 
came up with in the Maria, having the Carleton and Inflexi- 
ble a small distance astern ; the rest of the fleet almost out of 
sight. The action began at twelve o'clock, and lasted two 
hours, at which time Arnold, in the Congress galley and five 
gondolas, ran on shore, and were directly abandoned and 
blown up by the enemy, a circumstance they were greatly 
favored in by the wind beingoff shore, and the narrowness 
of the lake. The Washington galley struck during the 
action, and the rest made their escape to Ticonderoga. 

The killed and wounded in his majesty's fleet, including 
the artillery in the gun-boats, do not amount to forty ] but 
from every information I have yet got, the loss of the enemy 
must indeed be very considerable. 



THE END. 



INDEX. 



ABENAQUIS, 51, 65, 135. 
Also Abenakis. 
Abercrombie, Maj. Gen., 83, 84. 
advances against Ticon- 

deroga, 76. 
succeeds Loudon to the 
chief conamand in Ame- 
rica, 72. 
retreat of, 79. 
Adam's Bay, 252. 
Adams, John, 163. 
Addison, 58, 91. 
Adirondaclv Mountains, 10, 11. 
Adour River, 210. 
Adriance, Albert, 163. 
Aganusciiioni, 16. See Five 

yations. 
Aikin, Capt. Abram, 160, 250. 

Martin J., 222. 
Alainville, 56. 

Albany, 26, 32, 35, 36, 89, 42, 
43, 46, 47, 48, 72, 79, 
108, 135, 136, 152, 160. 
alarm guns fired ; send to 
Esopus for assistance, 
37. 
authorities issue orders of 
retaliation, 38. 
Alburgh Tongue, 8. 
Alexandria, Ya., 61. 

English meet in conference 
at, 60. 
Algonquins, 17, 23, 51, 135. 
engaged in war with the 

Mohawks, 18. 
defeat the Iroquois, 20, 21. 
Alison, Mr., 190. 
Allen, Capt. Ebcnezer, 149, 
152, 195, 196. 
biographical sketch of, 

157. 
takes the works on Mt. 
Defiance, 150. 
Col. Ethan, 97, 100, 106, 
108. 

33 



Allen, Col. Ethan, addresses 
his men, 103. 
commands an expedi- 
tion against Ticoncle- 
roga, 102. 
dispute with Benedict 

Arnold, 101, 103. 
taken prisoner at Mont- 
real, 111. 
takes the post of Ticon- 
derosa, 104. 
Frederic P., 222. 
Ira, 157. 
Jabez, 162. 
John, 173. 
Jonas, 170. 
Thomas, 164. 
Americans build armed vessels 
on Lake Champlain, 118. 
defeated at Hubbardton, 

143. 
defeated at Split Rock, 
130. 
Amherst, Maj. Gen., 3, 81, 90, 
94. 
builds a fort at Crown 

Point, 88. 
embarks with his whole 

army for Canada, 88. 
marches against Ticon- 
deroga and Crown 
Point, 84, 87. 
plans an expedition against 
the St. Francis Indians, 
89. 
takes Louisburg, 83. 
takes Montreal, 90. 
Anderson, Capt. Alexander, 
240, 245, 248. 
killed, 233. 
Andrews, Titus, 170. 
Anne, Queen, 45. 
Appendix, 241. 

Appling, Lieut. Colonel, 219, 
221. 



258 



INDEX. 



Armstrong, Gen., 184, 195. 
plans a descent upon King- 
ston, 194. 
Arnold, Capt., 123. 

Geno Benedict, 4, 91, 92, 

106, 112, 123, 124, 125, 

137,131,138,252,254, 

255. 

acts as Allen's assistant, 

103. 
attacked by Indians, 122. 
commands expedition 
against St. Johns, 105. 
cruises on the lake, 121. 
dispute -with Ethan Al- 
len, 101, 103. 
wounded at Quebec, 113. 
Arundacks, 51. 
Ash Island, 10, 188. 
Ashburton treaty, 9. 
Ashline, Prisque, 162. 
Atwood, Capt., 230. 
Aubrey, Capt., 151. 
Ausabie River, 163. 
Averill, Henry K., 322. 
Nathan, 170. 



BABCOCK, Capt. F., 185. 
Backus, Charles, 234. 

Baie du Roclier Fendus, 4. 

Bailey, Col. John, 174, 341, 
247. 
Judge William, 174, 177. 

Baker, Capt. Remember, 97, 
104. 

Bald Peak, 12. 

Baldwin, James M., 240, 245, 
248. 
killed, 231. 

Banker, Capt. John Jr., smug- 
gles on Lake Champlain, 
186, 187. 

Barber's Point, 252. 

Bardans, John, 97. 

Barker, Captain, makes a de- 
scent on Derby, 198. 

Barron, Joseph, 240, 245, 24G. 
248. 

Barton, Lewis, 163. 

Basin Harbor, 187. 



Batemau, Smith, 233. 
Bathurst, Earl, 237, 238. . 
Baum, Col., defeated at Ben- 
nington, 151. 
Baynes, Adj. Gen., 207. 
Beam, M., 76. 
Beauharnois, M. de, builds a 

fort at Crovrn Point, 49. 
Beaujeu, M. de, 56. 
Beaumont, Widow, 224. 
Beau-Sejour, 61. 
Beauvis, Sieur de, 53. 
Beckwith, G. M., 241. 
Bedon, Sieur, 56. 
Beekmantown, 160, 319, 233, 
239, 346. 
battle of, 330. 

Corners, 330. 

Road, 243, 245. 
Beeman, Abraham, 170. 
Bellamy, E., 186. 
Beman!^ Nathan, 103, 175. 
Bemis's Heights, 101. 
Benedict, Nehemiah, 163. 

Thomas, 163. 
Bennington, 69, 95, 151. 
Benson, Judsre, 170. 

Egbert, 1^76. 

Lieut., wounded, 339. 
Berrien, John, 163. 
Berry, M., 76. 
Berthier, Sieur de, 30. 
Big Chazy River, 7, 8, 56, 173, 

175, 194. 
Billinsrs, Andrew, 163. 
Bird, Gustavus, 333. 
Bissell, Brig. Gen., 204, 205, 

307, 210. 
Black ^fountains, 11. 
Blainville, Sieur cle, 36. 
Bloody Island, murder com- 
muted at, 10. 
Bloomtield, Gen., ordered to 

the Champlain frontier, 

183. 
Boilan, Pierre, 161. 
Bonavista, 14. 
Bonrepos, Sieur de, 36. 
Boston, 32, 35, 47, 99, 100, 

192. 
Bougainville, M. de, retreats 

from Isle aux Noix, 89. 



INDEX. 259 



Boucourt, M. de, entrusted 

with the duty of resisting 

the debarkation of the 

Euglisli troops, 47, 48. 
Bouquet River, 2, 6, 54, 92, 121, 

135, 129, 135, 152, 160, 

207. 
Bourlemaque, M. de, 70, 87. 

retreats to Crown Point, 
84. 
Boyntou, Elijah, 186. 

Jolm, 180. 
Braddock, Major General, 

commands an expedition 

against French fort on the 

Ohio, 60. 
Bradstreet, Lieut. Col., 76. 
Brand, Henry W., house and 

farm pillaged, 193. 
Brest, 56. 

Bridport, 56, 91, 103. 
Brisbane, Major General, 311, 

214. 
Brohier, Lieut. C, woimded, 

239. 
Brooks, Bartemus, 222. 

Captain Alexander, 213, 
235, 237. 

Mr., 249. 
Brosse, Sieur de la, 36. 
Brown, Capt., 101, 105, 112. 

Col., 149, 150. 

Maj., 108, 110. 
Brum, Mr., 234. 
Buck, Bostwick, 193. 
Budd, Lieut. Charles, 335. 
Bulwagga Mountain, 11. 
Burgoyne, Gen., 6,8,69, 101, 
117, 135, 145, 146, 148, 
149, 151. 

assigned to the command 
of the army in Canada, 
134. 

invades the United States, 
135. 

surrender of, 153. 
Burlington, 5, 6, 10, 158, 179, 
184, 185, 187, 191, 194, 
197, 198, 306, 307, 333. 

bell of St. Regis secreted 
in sands of, 45. 
Burr, Capt. Aaron, 113. 



CAFFINIERE, DE, 33. 
Calliers, Chevalier de, 
visits France, 33. 
his project to invade New 

York, 33, 33. 
sends instructions toCount 
de Frontenac, 33. 
Cambridge, 69, 99. 
Camel's Hump, 13. 
Cameron, Jolm, 97. 
Campbell, Capt. Laughlin, 59. 
arrives from Scotland 
with emigrants, 58. 
Canada, 1,3, 4, 8,9, 15,16, 33, 
26, 31,33,38, 49,51, 52, 
53, 54, 56, 58, 61, 63, 67, 
68,81,83,89,93,95,106, 
114, 115, 117, 134, 149, 
152, 162, 173, 174, 178, 
183, 187, 189, 195, 209, 
210,211,214,237. 
condition of, 35. 
cost of the expeditions 

against, 48. 
earthquake in, 5. 
first named by the Span- 
iards, 10. 
formally ceded to Great 

Britian,90. 
invasion of, 107, 108, 109. 
Maj. Schuyler's expedition 

against, 42. 
preparations to invade ; 
project abandoned, 39. 
retreat of the army of, 

114. 
two expeditions against, 
45, 46, 47. 
Canadians, 79. 

become intimidated, 65. 
sentiments of, 100. 
surprised and defeated by 
McGiuues, 00. 
Canaghsionie, 40.See Whitehall. 
Caniaderi - guarunte, Indian 
name for Lake Champlain, 
12. 
Cap Scounonton or Sconouton, 

7. 
Cape Breton, 48. 
Island, 72. 
Diamond, 112. 



260 



INDEX. 



Carleton, Gen. Guv, 9, 93, 106, 

107, 117, i25, 126, 130, 

132, 133, 134, 253, 255. 

attempts to raise the 

siege of St. Johns, 111. 

policy toward prisoners, 

131. 
prepares to repel the 
iuvaclers from Cana- 
da, 108. 
Island, 154. 

Maj . , suri")rises Fort George 
and Fort Ann, 153. 
Carter, Capt. Rogers (sailing 
master), 142, 240, 246, 
248. 
killed, 284. 
Carthagena, 59. 
Cartier^ Jacques, his explora- 
tions, 14, 15. 
Cassin, Lieut. 4, 198, 199, 207, 

225. 
Castile, 47. 
Castleton, 101, 104, 142, 146, 

148. 
CaughnaAvaga, 202. 
Indians, 93, 176. 
Cayugas, 16. 
Chamberlin, Abel, 250. 
Chamblv, 18, 24, 40, 41, 105, 
'110,114,155,208. 
attacked and ravaged by 
the Iroquois, 34. 
River, 9, 53. 
Sieur de, 24, 80. 
Champlain, Samuel de, 15, 171. 
expedition against the Mo- 
hawks, 18. 
his dream, 19. 
returns to Quebec and ap- 
appointed governor of 
Canada, 22. 
villao;e of, 209. 
Chandler; Brig. Gen., 184. 
Chapelain, saves his life by 
speaking in the Gaehc 
tongue, 58. 
Chapman, Ensign John, 220, 
244, 248. 
killed, 239. 
Charlotte, 5. 
Charter, John, 159. 



Chasv, Sieur de, 7, 27. 

' killed by Indians, 28. 

River, 7. See Chazy River. 
Chateaucrav, 171, 175, 177, 195, 
202." 

Four Corners, 195, 198. 

Lake, 175. 

River, 195. 
Chazv, 53, 93, 161, 183, 207, 

' 208, 209, 210, 212, 214, 
239 

Landing, 193. 

River, 53. 
Cheesemau, Capt., killed at 

Quebec, 113. 
Cheonderoga, 3. See Ticon- 

deroga. 
Chimney Pomt, 182. 

oriijin of its name, 3. 
Chin, The, 12. 
Chipman, Mr., 91. 
Chittenden, Gov., 172, 219, 238. 

disputes with the Vermont 
volunteers, 199. 
Clark, Col. Isaac, 195, 197, 203, 
204, 207. 

at Missisco Bav, 196. 
Clarke, F., 186. 
Clinton, Gov. Georse (Brig. 

Gen.), 52, 58, 153460, 165, 

166, 168, 170, 171, 219. 
Cloutier, Charles, 161. 
Cochran, John Jr., 170. 

Roberi, 162, 169. 
Colchester Point, 158. 
Cole, Lieut. Col., 65. 
Collins, John, 158. 
Conklin, Benjamin, 163. 
Connecticut, 35, 39,45, 79, 101, 
103. 

River, 49, 89, 90, 95. 
Contrecour, Sieur Jr., 53, 54. 
Corbeau River, 162. 
Coriear, 6, 13, 26. 

drowned, 31. 
Couch, S., 241. 

Courcelles, M. de, 24, 25, 27, 
30, 31. 

drawn into an ambus- 
cade, 26. 

invades the Mohawk 
country, 25. 



INDEX. 



261 



Crab Island, 6, 233, 225, 226, 

227, 229, 240. 
Craig, Sir James, 131. 
iSir Jolm, 180. 
sends Henry on a mis- 
sion to New England, 
179. 
Creswick, Lieut., 206. 
Cross, Henry, 92. 
Crosse, Capt. T., wounded, 239. 
Crown Point, 3, 4, 10, 11, 19, 
21, 38, 42, 49, 52, 53, 56, 
57, 59, 60; 61, 63, 66, 67, 
68, 72, 89, 90, 92, 93, 98, 
105, 106, 107, 108, 115, 
116, 118, 121, 123, 125, 
129, 130, 133, 139, 156, 
161,170,171,252,253. 
Amherst commences a 

fort at, 88. 
destroyed by the French, 

87. 
reduction of, 104. 
works at destroyed, 132. 
Culver's Hill, 243, '244. 

battle of, 220. 
Cumberland Bay, 7,208. 

Head, 7, 123, 125, 135, 164, 
193, 194, 208, 210, 211, 
227, 230, 235. 

DACRES, Lieut., 124. 
Mr., 254. 
D'Ailleboust, M., 23. 
Danbury, 101. 
Dartmouth, Lord, 12. 
Davis, Brig. Gen., 200, 201. 

Capt., 130. 
Dead Creek, 208, 219, 221. 
Dean, 101. 
Dearborn, Maj. Gen., 183. 

his morning visit in Cana- 
da, 184. 
Deerfield, destroyed by French 

and Indians, 45. 
Deforris, T., 241. 
Delawares, 16. 
Dellius, Godfrey, 57. 
Delord, Judge, 192, 247. 
Denonville, %L de, is compelled 

to ■conclude treaty with 

the Iroquois, 34. 



Derby, store houses and bar- 
racks destroyed by the 
English, 198. 
Detroit, surrender of, 185. 
De'Waim, Capt., 42. 
Diamond Island, 151. 
Dickson, Capt., 121. 

Moses, 162. 
Dieskau, Baron de, 67. 

advances to the defense 

of Crown Point, 63. 

arrives at Quebec with 

troops from France, 63. 

found thrice wounded and 

helpless leaning against 

a tree, 66. 

lands on the shores of 

South Bay and attacks 

English encampment, 2. 

Dixon, Lieut. Col. Luther, 200, 

211. 
Dix's Peak, 12. 
Dongan, Gov., 32. 
Doolittle, Col. Ephraim, 91. 
Douglass, sent to Bridport for 
a scow, 102. 
Bay, 6. 
Douville, Sieur, 54. 
Downie, Capt. George, 225, 
226, 227, 228, 234, 240, 
248. 
killed, 233. 
Dresden, 2, 21. 
Dumbarton, 67. 
Duncan, Mr. Silas, 222. 

wounded, 221. 
Dunlap, Mr., 166. 
Du Quesne, 61. 
Durkee, Sheldon, 251. 
Dutch, 16. 
Dutchess, 165. 

EAST Bay, 2. 
Creek, 137, 140, 141. 
Edward, Duke of York, 63. 
Elizabethtown, 103, 171. 
Elmore, John, 162. 

Lot, 162. 
Emmons, Prof, 5, 10. 
England, 32, 67. 
English, advance against Fort 
Carillon, 75. 



262 



INDEX. 



English, attack the works near 
Otter Creek, 207. 

build armed vessels on 
Lake Champlain, 117. 

capture the Growler and 
Eagle, 190. 

claim the territory on both 
sides the lake, 50. 

complete their defenses at 
Fort William Henry, 
67. 

considered a weak and 
cowardly people by the 
Five Nations, 48. 

defeat the French at Lake 
George, 66. 

defeated at Plattsburgh, 
236. 

defeated in a naval en- 
gagement off Platts- 
burgh, 230. 

destroy barracks and store 
houses at Derby, 198. 

fleet, scattered and wreck- 
ed, 48. 

jealous of their rulers, 61. 

make a descent upon 
Plattsburgh, 190. 

meet in conference at Al- 
exandria, Va., 60. 

occupy Crown Point, 132. 

plan of the campaign of 
1776, 117. 

return to Canada, 133. 

scouting parties, 79, 80. 

send reinforcements to 
Fort Edward, 64. 
Erkly's Point, 6. 
Esopus, 37. 
Essex, 5, 6, 159, 219. 
Everest, Ethan, 232. 

Zadoc, 91. 
Everett', Edward, 162, 170. 

FAIRCHILD, Aaron, 160. 
Fenwick, Col.,210. 
Fermoy, Gen. de, 143. 
Ferris,' A., 186. 

Jacob, 164, 193. 
Peter, 91. 
FeiTisburgh, 159. 
Pessie, John, 161. 



Finch, Capt., surprises an ad- 
vance guard of cavahy, 
196. 
Fisher, Ephraim, 159. 

William, 159. 
Fitch, Dr., 31, 47. 
Five Nations, 16, 33,38, 44, 46, 

48, 50, 57. 
Flagg, Azariah C, 333. 
Floyd, William, 163. 
Forbes, Gen., takes Fort du 

Quesne, 83. 
Forsyth, Lt. Col., shot by an 
Indian, 309. 
Maj., 203, 304. 
Fort Albany, 26. 

Ann, 46, 62, 149. 

surprised by Maj. Carle- 
ton, 153. 
Blunder, why so termed, 

9. 
Brown, 316, 223, 334, 337. 
Carillon, 3, 67, 69, 73. 
abandoned and blown up 

by Bourlemaque, 84. 
description of, 75. 
plan of, 85. 
Chambly, 49. 

surprise of, 110. 
du Quesne, capitulates to 
Gen. Forbes, 83. 
proposed expedition 
against, 73. 
Dummer, 49. 

Edward, 46, 62, 64, 66, 69, 
70, 71, 80, 142, 144, 146, 
149, 151, 154, 161. 
Erie, 247. 
Gaines, 340. 

George, 71, 133, 145, 148, 
161. 
surprised by Maj. Carle- 
ton, 153. 
Laprairie, 40, 49. 
surprised and taken by 
Maj. Schuyler, 43. 
Montgomery, 9. 
Moreau, 316, 240. 
Miller, 161. 
Niagara, 185. 
Nicholson, 46. 
Orange, 32. 



INDEX. 



263 



Fort Oran2:e, intended attack 1 
on, ""36. 
Richelieu, 24. 

demolished, 10. 
St. Anne, 7, 24, 27, 29, 34, 

41, 49. 
St. Frederic, 3, 4, 8, 49, 
52, 53, 56, 63, 67. 
description of, 50. 
destroyed bythe French, 

3,87. 
seat of the French pow- 
er in 1659, 51. 
St. Johns, 56, 112. 
gathering of Indians at, 
69. 
St. Louis, 10, 24. 
St. Theresa, 34. 
Saratoga, 49. 
Scott, '"216. 
Stanwix, 136, 151. 
Tompkins, 240. 
Ticonderoga, 3. 
William Henry, 66, 67, 
69, 70, 72. 
attacAcd by French and 

Indians, 68. 
massacre at, 71. 
plan of, 73. 
Fouquet's Hotel, 243, 246. 
Four Brothers, 6, 208. 
Four Winds Islands, 6. 
Fowler, Col., killed, 144. 
France, 14, 15, 22, 33, 52, 69. 
Francis, Col., 142. 

killed, 144. 
Fraser, Brig. Gen., 117, 134, 
139. 
pursues the retreating 
Americans, 143. 
Fredenburgh, Charles de, 94, 
163. 
Falls, 195. 
French, 9, 31, 42, 43, 60, 65, 70. 
attacked at Chambly, 38. 
build forts on the shores 

of Lake Champlain, 3. 
build a fort at Crown Point 

49. 
build forts in the wilder- 
ness, 61. 
burn Deerfield, 45. 



French, compelled to eat their 

shoes, 44. 

defeat the English under 

Col. Williams at Lake 

George, 64. 

defeated by the English, 

66. 
destroy Fort St. Fred- 
eric, and retreat to 
Isle aux Noix, 87. 
driven to the shelter of 

Valcour Island, 88. 
grants on the lake, 52-56. 
fortify Ticonderoga, 67. 
join the Algonquins and 
Hurons in an expedi- 
tion against the Iro- 
quois, 18-21. 
release their nominal 
sovereignty over the 
Iroquois, 48. 
repulsed by Capt. John 

Stark, 69. 
under Vaudreuil and 
Chevalier Longueuil 
attack Fort WlUiam 
Henry, 68. 
Mills, 197, 202. 
Friswell, Lieut., 92. 
Frombois, John la, 93. 
Frontenac, Count de, 33, 35, 38. 
marches against the Mo- 
hawks, 43. 
marches to Quebec to repel 

the English 40. 
organizes'an expedition to 
invade New York, 35. 
Frontfreyde, coroner, 170. 

GALISSONNIERE, M. de 
la 52. 
Gamble,' Lieut. Peter, 233, 234, 
240, 245, 248. 
killed, 228. 
Garonne River, 210. 
Gates, Maj. Gen., 118, 122, 124, 
125,131,133,138,146,151, 
152, 160, 252, 253, 254. 
Gauchetiere, Sieur la, 53, 57. 
Georgia, 54. 

Germain, Lord George, 148. 
Germans, 47. 



264 



INDEX. 



Gliont, treaty of, 240. 
Gilliland, WilliaDi, 93, 150. 
Gilman, R. A., 241, 242. 
Glen, Capt. Sanders, 42. 
Glen's Falls, 62. 
Goldsmith, Mr., 224. 
Goodspecd, Mr., 220. 
Gordon, Alexander, 158. 
Graham, Col., 79. 
Grand Isle, 7, 125, 154, 157, 

207. 
Grant, Capt., 127. 
Graves, Mr., wounded, 189. 
Gray, William, 177. 
Great au Sable River, 2, 6. 
Great Britain, 49, 57, 90, 180, 
182. 

difficulties with the United 
States, 178. 

United States declare war 
against, 182. 
Great Cai-rying Place, rendez- 
vous for Gen. Johnson's 

army, 62. 
Green, Lieut., wounded, 205. 

Mountains, 10. 
Greenbush, 184. 
Griffin, Jonathan, 224. 
Groton, 91. 

Grovenor, Capt., 235. 
Gulf of St. Lawrence, 14. 
Gunn, William, 240, 245, 248. 

killed, 233. 
Guyenne, Mr., 76. 

HALE, Col., flees toward 
Castleton, 143. 

surrenders without firing 
a gun, 144. 
Haile, judge Wm. F., 241, 

244, 245. 
Haldimand, Sir Frederic, 154. 
Half Moon, 42. 
Hall, Enoch, 157. 
Halsey, Brig. Gen., 241, 242, 

243. 
Halsey's Corners, battle of, 

220. 
Halsted, Piatt R., 245. 
Hamilton, Alexander, 165. 

Brig. Gen., 134. 

Lieut., 235. 



Hampton, Maj. Gen., 191, 195, 

199, 200, 202. 

moves against the British 

posts on the Richelieu, 

194. 

repairs to Washington, 

197. 
withdrawn from the fron- 
tier, 203. 
Hancock, ]\Iaj., 203. 
Hand, Hon. A. C, 103. 
Hartwick, John B., 164, 170. 
Hartly, Lieut. Col., 122. 
Haswell, Lieut., 179. 
Hathaway, Shadrack, 159. 
Havana, 94. 
Haverhill, reduced to ashes, 

45. 
Haviland, Col., joins Amherst 
and Murrav in the siege 
of Montreal, 90. 
marches against the 
French at Isle aux Noix, 
89. 
Hawlev, Gideon, 159. 
Hay, William, 92. 

thrown into prison by Gen. 
Carleton, and again ar- 
rested by order of Gen. 
Sullivan, 93. 
Henderson, James, 97. 
Hendrik, Mohawk sachem, 
mortallv wounded, 64. 
speech of," 60, 61. 
Henly, Capt., 225. 
Henry, John, 180. 

sent on a mission to New 
England, 179. 
Herrick, Capt., 104, 105, 189, 
196. 
sent against Skenesbo- 
rough, 102. 
Hicks, Lieut., 220, 229. 
Highgate, 53. 
Highlanders, 59. 
Hill, Brig. Gen., commands 
naval expedition against 
Quebec, 47. 
Hinckley, N., 186. 
Hochelaga, 14, 15. See Mont- 
real. 
Hocquart, M. de, 49, 56. 



INDEX. 



265 



Hoit, Gates, 175. 
Hoflfnao:le, John, 160. 

Melchor, 160. 
Holmes, Lieut., wounded, 239. 
Horicon Rivei", 73. 
Hospital Island, 10. 
Hout Kil, 2. 

Howe, Gen., sent against New 
York, 117. 
Ira, 220. 
Lord, 68. 
killed, 70. 

sent against New York, 
117. 
Hubbardton, battle of, 143. 
Hudson, Henry, 22. 

River, 31,82,46,58, 62,63, 
95, 98, 135, 161. 
Hull, Gen., 183. 

surrenders Detroit, 185. 
Hurlbut, E., 186. 
Hurons, 17, 23, 51. 

defeat the Iroquois, 20, 21. 
Hyde, Ebenezer, 157. 
Joshua, 97. 

INDIANS, 2, 3, 6, 10, 24, 38, 
42, 43, 52. 

attack the Americans at 
St. Johns, 109. 

burn one of their killed, 41. 

character of, 16. 

commit depredations on 
the fontier, 45. 

massacre the English at 
Fort William Henry, 71. 

refuse to advance against 
Fort Edward, 63. 

refuse to fight, 65. 

superstitions of, 19. 

surprised and defeated by 
McGinnes, 66. 

take Putnam prisoner, 
81. 
Ingoldsbv, Col., 47. 
Iroquois,"9, 12,16, 17,19, 20, 
23, 33, 48, 65, 135. 

attack and devastate Mont- 
real, 34. 

attack Chambly, 34. 

Champlain's dream con- 
cerning, 19. 

34 



Iroquois defeated by the Al- 
gonquins and Hurons, 
20, 21. 
dictate terms of peace to 

the French, 34. 
incursions of, 23. 
Iroscosia, 12. 
Isla, 58. 
Isle aux Chapons, 6. 

aux Noix, 10, 84, 108, 109, 
114, 115, 117, 135, 188, 
190, 204, 205, 208, 209, 
210. 
a fort at, 203. 
French retreat to, 87. 
taken by the English, 89. 
aux Tete-s, 10, 122, 188,209. 
de Quatre-vents, 6. 
la Motte, 7, 8, 53, 108, 114, 
122, 157, 173, 215, 225, 
Longue, 7, 54. 
Izard, Maj. Gen., 197, 208, 212, 
214. 
ordered to the west, 211. 

JACKSON, Charles, 240, 245, 
248. 
killed, 233. 
Jacob, Captain, ordered to pro- 
ceed to Crown Point, 38. 
Jamaica, 164. 
Jay, 171, 220. 
Jeiferson, Mr., 169. 

proclamation of, 178. 
Jessup, Major, 154. 
Johnson, Col. Guy, 52, 107. 
Su: John, builds Fort 
William Henry, 66. 
makes a descent upon 
Johnstown, 153. 
Sir William, commands 
an expedition against 
Crown Point, 60. 
halts at Lake George, 62. 
is appointed a baronet, 

66. 
receives a painful wound 

in the thigh, 66. 
sends Lt. Col. Cole with 
reinforcements to the 
aid of Col. Williams, 
65. 



266 



INDEX. 



Johnstown, attacked, 153. 
Jones, R, 186.. 
Juniper Island, light house 
erected on, 6. 



KAH-CHO-QUAH-NA, 3. 
See Whitehall. 
Kalm, 3, 7. 
Kanondora, 40. 
Kaskebe, capture of, 35. 
Kayaderosseras range, 11. 
Kennebec River, 107. 
Kent, Chancellor, 1G5. 
Kerr, Lieut., wounded, 305. 
Ketchum, Beuj., 241. 
Keyes, Stephen, 158. 
Killington Peak, 13. 
King, Gideon, 186. 
King's Bay, 7, 8, 198, 309. 
Kingsbury, Lieutenant R.,231, 
348. 
severely wounded, 239. 
Kingston, 194, 195. 

L'ACADIE, 309. 
Lachiue Rapids, 15. 
La Colle, 203, 309. 

mill, battle of, 304, 305. 
River, 184, 204, 205. 
La Fayette, M. de, 153,153. 
Lafrauce, Jocco, 177. 
LaFrombois, John, 99, 161. 
Lake Champlain, general de- 
scription of, and of the 
most important points 
along its borders — an- 
cient and modern names 
of places — distances 
■ — old forts — scenery — 
original Indian name, 
1-13. 
condition of the country 

about, 49-56. 
naval operations on, 88, 

89. 
progress of the settle- 
ment of the country 
bordering on, prior 
to the revolution, 90, 
98. 



Lake Champlain, progress and 
extent of settlements 
on the borders of, 
anterior to the re- 
volution — per s o n a 1 
sketches — trade and 
commerce of the coun- 
try — population, &c., 
&c., 156-177. 
British and American 
naval force on, 187, 
188. 
operations on, 198. 
Corlear, 13. 

George, 3, 3,31, 31, 47, 
48, 56, 63, 63, 70, 73, 
75,79,88,118,132,137, 
138, 139, 147, 148, 149, 
159, 161, 211, 313. 
battle of, 64, 65, 66. 
Memphremagog, 96, 186. 
Ontario, 17, 03, 179, 301, 
St. Sacrament, 4. 
Lamoile River, 3, 7. 
La Monte, Joseph, 94. 
Lancy, Lt. Gov. de, 63. 
Lane, Samuel, 158. 
Languedoc, M., 76. 
Lansing, Judge, 168. 
Laprairie, attacked by the En- 
glish, 41. 
gala day at, 40. 
Larabee, Lieut., 306. 
wounded, 205. 
Point, 103. 
La Riviere aux Loutres, 4. 
Lasambert, Antoine, 161. 
Laurence, attacks and defeats 
stragglers, 38. 
pursues the French, 37. 
Lavan, Antoine, 161. 
Lawrence, Jonathan, 163. 

Stephen, 158. 
Lee, Capt., 127. 

Midshipman, 234. 
wounded, 333. 
Leisler, Lieut. Gov., sends let- 
ters for protection to the 
ditferent provinces, 38. 
Leonard, Captain, 313, 219, 

230. 
Letournan, Joseph, 161. 



INDEX. 



267 



Levy, M. de, holds the road to 
Fort Edward, 70. 

reinforces Montcahn, 76. 
Lewis, Adjutant, wounded, 
239. 

Eli, 250. 
Lexington, 69, 99. 
L'Hommedieu, Ezra, 163. 
Lincoln, Geu., leads expedi- 
tion against Ticonderoga, 

149. 
Lion Couchant, 12. See Cam- 
el's Hump. 
Lisbon, 47, 171. 
Little au Sable River, 6. 

Chazy River, 7. 

Stone Fort, 42, 49. 
Livingston, 165. 

Capt., 112. 

Major, 110. 
Lizotte, Lewis, 170. 
Lock, Col., retreat of, 196. 
Logan's Point, 191. 
London, 72. 
Londonderry, 68. 
Long, Col., 141, 142. 
Long Island, 99, 167, 169, 
170. 

Point, 68. 
Longcraft, Lieut., 124. 
Longueuil, Chevalier, 68, 111. 
Loomis, Mr., 188. 
Loraine, 168. 
Lord, Lieut., 150. 
Loring, Capt., naval operations 

on Lake Champlain, 88. 
Lossing, Mr., his account of 

Amherst's movements, 88. 
Lotbiniere, Michael Chartier 

de, 56. 
Louisburg, capitulates to Gen. 
Amherst, 83. 

proposed e x p e d i ti o n 
against, 72. 
Luges, Sieur de, drowned, 31. 
Lutwidge, Capt., 135. 
Lyman, Maj. Gen. Phineas, 
63, 66. 

arrives at the Carrying 
Place and erects Fort 
Edward, 62. 
Lynde, Jonathan, 160, 170. 



-cAULEY William, 169. 
McBean, Angus, 97. 
McCreedy, Charles, 164. 
MacDonough, Lieut. Thomas, 
4, 7,^189, 190, 198, 207, 
208, 209, 221, 225, 234, 
235, 237, 249. 
attacks the English fleet, 

188. 
takes charge of the naval 
operations on the lake, 
187. 
victory on Lake Cham- 
plain, 231. 
McGhee, Lieut. James, 226. 

wounded, 233. 
McGinnes, surprises and de- 
feats a party of Canadians 
and Indians, 66. 
McGlassin, Capt., 212, 224. 
surprises the English and 
spikes their guns, 225. 
Mcintosh, Donald, 91, 97. 
McKay, Francis, 93. 
McNeil, Col. D. B., 242, 243. 

John, 159. 
Macomb, Brig. Gen., 203, 204, 
207, 210, 211, 212, 213, 
216, 219, 221, 222, 224, 
237, 238, 239, 240. 
prepares to resist the inva- 
sion of the English, 215. 
sent to Burlington, 206. 
McPherson, Capt. ,^206, 207. 
wounded, 205. 
Capt. John, aid-de-camp 
to Gen. Montgomery, 
killed at Quebec, 118. 
Major, 204. 
Madison, President, 183. 

sends a message to con- 
gress, 181. 
Mahew, led into an ambush, 
209: 
shot by Forsyth's men, 
210. 
Maine,"lo6. 
Mallett's Bay, 96. 
Mallory, David, 175. 
Nathaniel, 162. 
Mamerval, M. de, 35. 
Manchester, 149. 



268 



rSTJEX. 



Man* 

1- 



-—5. 



3£oiiJca'— 



IL 






'Ti. from death 
•:.i.-ve, 81. 

y -'39.60, W, 81. 

>' -,12. 

y. Hi 

iL- - :>i3. 

Coi.. ra4. 345. 
Doctor. If:r2. 
John. 163. 
Mflton, 158. 
Mingoes. 16. 
Missisco Bav, 8, 89, 196. 
exr^ of, 1. 
tributaries of, 2. 

y ' - o>» 

y . . 20. 

in ;:..r.-, ,, 16. 24, 26, 28, 
m, 38. 108. 

c^ •• •'■■1 - -- — ^ith the 
:i. 

River, 17,'^&, 1.33. 
Monro, Col.. 83. 

surrenders Fort William 
Henry to the French, 71. 
Mont, rle, \o. 

Montgomery, Brig. Gen., IfrT, 
109. 
advances to the assault 
of Quebec. 113. 
I of, 11.3. 
•■*r Canada, 108. 

•".V .Vs. 

Montcalm, Gen., 79. 81. 

atr^i, U-; rl,,. Fn:?li3h at 
', 70. 

ei rain the 

bckrijaritie? of the Indi- 
ans at Fort William 
Henry, 72. 



pre; .emva- 

siOii Oi iuc r.rigiijh, 7o. 

preTvarc« frvF i>i^ approach- 

rei: >L de Levy, 

sends Putnam a prisoner 
to Montreal, 82. 
Montigny. Sietir de. 36. 

■wounded at Schenectadv, 
37. 
Montma^nT, Mons. de, 23, 24, 
Montreal'. 14, 16. 32. 34. 35. 36, 
41. 42, 43, 4-5. 48. 54. 69, 
82.91. 92. 93. 94, lf>i, 
105. 110, 111. 194, 201, 
202, 208. 2fX*. 211. 
council at. 107. 
island of 176. 
sorr ' ■ ■ r- -rireni] 

t' '. 

tak=.^ ... .-.L .^ _->merv, 
112. 
Monty, Francis, 160. 
Moore, CoL A. C, 224, 241, 
243. 
Georee, 242. 
Gov.r9. 
Judse Pliny, 169, 175, 197, 

210. 
Paul, 91. 
Mooers, 247. 

C. 9., 241, 243. 

Hazen. 249. 

Lieut. Col. Benjamin, 160, 

169, 170, 174. 
Maj. Gpd.. 219, 23.5. 236, 
237,2:38,240, 2-50. 
Morehouse, .John, 160. 
Morgan, William H., 241. 
Mothe, M. de la, 7, 24. 
Mott, Ehenezer, 163. 
Mount Defiance, 3, 84, 138, 
141, 144, lft5. 
Hope, 137, 140, 143, 144, 

149. 
Independence, 10. 118, 133, 
137, 138, 140, 142, 148, 
1.50, 1-59. 
Marcy, 11, 12. 



~ ~ inr>- 



€>SL_ ■■ if. 2^k 

"W?ii"'' ^ z^'-:i- — '.it- 












t' 



23!k25X 



i«a^ «a- 3(tK-9«»^ 



^s 






270 

Peaslee, Zacheus, 158, 161. 
Periere, Sieur de la, 53, 54. 
Perreault, Maj., 197. 
Pem, 163, 171. 
Petit, Jabez, 164. 
Petow-par-gow, 13. 
Philadelphia, 165. 
Phillips, Maj. Gen., 117, 134, 

139, 140, 147, 148. 
Phipps, Sir William, 40. 

commands naval expedi- 
tion an;ainst Quebec, 39. 
Pierce, Col, ^309. 
Pierson, Moses, 91. 

Thomas, 91. 
Pike, Col., 184. 
Gen., 316. 
Pitt, appoints Amherst com- 
mander-in-c hief oft he 
English forces in Ameri- 
ca, "83. 
Piatt, Charles, 163, 169, 170, 
- 238. 
Isaac C, 231. 
Major, 193. 
Moss K., 341. 
Capt. Nathaniel, 163, 175. 
punishes a minister for 
political heresy, 100. 
Theodorus, 169, 170. 
Juda;e Zephauiah, 163, 164, 
1613, 167, 169, 174. 
Plattsburgh, 7, 159, 163, 164, 
167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 
174,175, 183, 188, 191, 
192, 193, 197, 198, 199, 
203, 203, 207, 208, 311, 
312, 213, 315, 319, 335, 
240,241, 243, 343, 244, 
245, 247. 
and its vicinity, plan of, 

218. 
battle of, 235, 236. 
celebration of the anni- 
versary of the battle 
of, 241-248. 
naval engagement oflF, 238, 

239, 330. 
public and private prop- 
erty destroyed at by the 
English, 190. 
Plumer, 91. 



INDEX. 



Point an Per, 8, 114, 115, 154, 
175, 198. 

au Roclie, 160, 161, 193. 

au Trembles, 112. 
Pointe a la Chevelure, 3. 

Algonquin, 8. 

Regiochne, 5. 

Trembleau, 6. 
Pope, Martin, 160. 
Port Henry, 4. 

Kent, 6, 10, 11, 41. 
Portuguese, 47. 
Pota-wa-bogue, 12. 
Pottier's Point, 6, 91. 
Poughkeepsie, 161, 163, 164, 

l67. 
Poultney, 147. 

River, 2. 
Powell, Brig. Gen., 134, 150. 

Maj., 196. 
Powers, Maj. Gen., 214, 219, 

235. 
Pratt, Major, killed, 144. 
Premier, Capt., 121, 133. 
Prescott, Maj. A. A., 240. 
Preston, Maj., 109, 111. 
Prideaux, Gen., takes com- 
mand of an expedition 

against Niagara, 83. 
Princeton, 167. 
Pring, Capt., 198, 199, 207, 

208, 315, 335, 336, 237, 

239. 
Pringle, Capt. Thomas, 125, 

136, 137. 
Providence Island, 307. 
Provost, Sir George, 199. 
310, 223, 235, 237. 

invades the United States, 
314. 

retreats to Canada, 338. 
Purchase, Capt. John, 239, 244, 
248. 

killed, 236. 
Putnam, town of, 21. 

Capt. Israel, 66. 

Maj., 79, 99, 1.39. 
biographical sketch of, 

81. 
his account of the mas- 
sacre at Fort William 
Henry, 71. 



INDEX. 



271 



Putnam, Maj., in trouble, 80, 
81. 
informs Gen. Webb of 
the approach of the 
French, 70. 
sent to Montreal, 83. 
Putnam's Point, 132. 



QUEBEC, 14, 17, 18, 22, 23, 
27, 28, 35, 45, 50, 53, 56, 
56,63,109,113, 118,134, 
173, 183, 202, 208, 211. 
expeditions against, 39, 40, 
46, 47, 83, 107. 
Queenstown, 185, 246. 

RAIMBAULT, M., 54. 
Rand, Ephraim, 251. 
Rank, Lieut., 224. 
Ransom, 247. 

Lewis, 175. 
Raven Hill, 12. 

Reed, Lt. Col. John, dispute 
between his tenants and 
the New Hampshire set- 
tlers, 96, 97. 
Reeves, Capt. Simon R., 163. 
Reine, M. la, 76. 
Reynolds, Lucius, 170. 
Richards, Capt., 235. 
Richardson, Mr., 91. 
Richelieu River, 9, 12, 18, 24, 
32,34, 36, 69, 84, 105, 
108,110, 114, 124, 135, 
152, 157, 173, 188, 194, 
198, 204, 207, 208. 
velocity of, 1. 
Reidesel, Maj. Gen., 117, 134. 
Riley, Lt. Col. B., 242. 
Riviere aux Loutres, 53. 
Chicot, 2. 
des Iroquois, 12. 
Robart, Sieur, 54. 
Roberts, Benjamin, 175. 
Robinson, Maj. Gen., 214, 219, 

235. 
Rock, A., 186. 

Rogers, Capt. Robert, 50, 52, 
66, 67. 
goes on a scouting expe- 
dition, 68. 



Rogers, Maj., 79, 87. 

commands an expedi- 
ition against the St. 
Francis Indians, 89. 
Piatt, 163. 
Timothy, 159. 
Rottenburgh, Lieut. Gen. de, 

214. 
Rous, Jacque, 162. 
Rouse's Point, 162, 188, 198, 
199, 203, 208. 
Bay, 8, 187. 
Rousillon, M., 76. 
Rouville, de, commands an ex- 
pedition against Deerfield, 
45. 
Royal Highland Emigrants, 7. 
Royalton, Vt., attacked by 

Indians, 153. 
Runk, Lieut. Geo. W., 239, 244, 

248. 
Rutland, 141. 
Ryswick, peace of, 44. 

SABBATH 'Day Point, 72. 
Sacketts Harbor, 194, 195. 
SafFord, Capt., 219. 
Sailly, Peter, 164, 168, 169, 

170, 174, 192, 247. 
St Amand Bay, 123. 
St. Charles River, 14. 
St. Clair, Maj. Gen. Arthur, 
142, 147, 253. 
biographical sketch of, 

136, 137. 
evacuates Ticonderoga, 

141. 
retreats to Fort Edward, 

144. 
vindication of, 145, 146. 
St. Croix River, 14, 15. 
St. Francis Indians, their vil- 
lage burned by Maj. 
Rogers, 89. 
River, 51. 
St. Helene, Sieur la Moyne de, 
37. 
commands an expedition 
against Schenectady, 36. 
St. Johns, 8, 10, 51, 56, 104, 
106, 108, 117, 135, 152, 
157,203,208,209. 



272 



INDEX. 



St. Johns, capitulation of, 111. 
expedition against, 105. 
siege of, 110. 
St. Lawrence River, 1, 9, 13, 
14,15, 16,18,31, 34,40, 
57, 89, 110, 111, 113, 173, 
170, 185, 194, 201, 202, 
211. 
northern bank of held by 
the Algonquins, 17. 
St. Leger, Col., 135. 
St. Michel's Island, 6. See Crah 

Island. 
Saintonge, 15. 
St. Regis, 177, 202. 
afi'air at, 185. 
bell of secreted, 45. 
Indians, 176. 
reservation, 176. 
River, 96. 
St. Roche, 112, 113. 
St. Theresa, 9, 24, 25. 
St. Vincent, Sieur, 53, 54. 
Salaberry, Maj., 184. 
Salasanac River, 7. See Saranac 

River. 
Salem, 81, 95. 
Salieres, M. de, 24. 
Salmon Falls,destruction of, 35. 

River, 2, 215, 235, 250. 
Sampson, 214. 
Saranac River, 2, 7, 94, 160, 

164,215,225,235,249. 
Saratoga, 154. 

ba'ttle of, 151. 
Sarre, M. la, 75, 76. 
Savage, Mr., 224. 
Saxe, Judge, his store burned, 
193. 
Marshal, 63. 
Saxton, Frederick, 158. 
Seaman, Capt., 121. 
Schank, Lieut., 124. 
Schenectady, 25, 26, 31, 36, 38, 
39, 42, 211, 212. 
burned, and inhabitants 
massacred, 37. 
Schoharie, 153. 

Schuyler, Capt. Abram, leads 
a scouting party of Indi- 
ans against the French at 
Chambly,38. 



Schuyler, Capt. Abram, order- 
ed to take post at Otter 
Creek, 38. 
Capt. John, 40. 
attacks Fort Laprairie, 

41. 
dissatisfied with coimcil 

of war, 39. 
retreats to Albanj^, 42. 
Col. Peter, 47. 
induces the Five Na- 
tions to take the field 
against the French, 
46. 
Maj. Philip, attacks and 
carries Fort Laprairie, 
42. 
engages the French in 
battle ; retreats to Al- 
bany, 43. 
Maj. Gen., 107, 109, 122, 
136, 142, 146, 163, 254. 
joins Moutiiomery at Isle 

laMotte';i08. 
vindication of, 144, 145, 
146. 
Island, 6, 121, 129, 253. 
Schuylerville, 46. 
Scotland, 58, 91. 
Scott, Lieut., 124. 
Seneca Indians, 16. 
Seven Nations of Canada, 

176. 
Schaff"er, Mr. George, 173. 
Shelburne or Shelburn, 91, 158. 

Bay, 6. 
Sheldon, Joseph, 160. 
Shirley, Governor, commands 
an expedition against Ni- 
agara, 60. 
Shoreham, 91, 103. 
Sinclair, John, wounded, 233. 
Six Nations, 58, 60, 62, 107. 
Ska-ne-toffh-ro-wah-na, 13. 
Skene, Co\., 148. 

Maj. Phihp, 94, 95, 103. 
establishes the settle- 
ment of Skenesbo- 
rough, 3. 
project to form a new 

province, 98. 
taken prisoner, 104. 



INDEX. 



273 



Skene, Mrs., body of found in a 

cellar, 104. 
Skenesborougli, 2, 4, 95, 96, 
102, 105, 108, 118, 140, 
141, 142, 145, 148, 149. 
expedition against, 102. 
surprise of, 104. 
Skinner, Maj., 250. 

Maj. Gen., 241, 242, 243, 

245, 246. 
St. John B. L., 222. 
Slop Island, 5. 
Smith, Benjamin, 163. 

Brig. General, 204, 208, 

209. 
Capt., 216, 235. 
Israel, 163. 
John, 163. 
Justin, 186. 

ColonelMelancton (Judge), 
163, 165, 166, 168, 216, 
247. 
biographical sketch of, 
164. 
Orange, 158. 
Pliny, 159. 
Samuel, 91, 163. 
Sarah, 166. 

Lieut. Sidney, 187, 188. 
Smithtown, 167. 
SmoUet, Mr., 90. 
Soper, Amos, 222. 

Moses, 164, 170. 
Sorrel, M. de, 24, 135. 
fort built by, 10. 
invades the Moha^Yk 
country, 28. 
River, 9. 
South Bay, 1, 3, 4, 62, 63, 64, 

67, 142. 
Spafford, Amos, 159. 
Spaniards, tradition concern- 
ing ; give a name to Cana- 
da, 16. 
Spaulding, Timothy, 91. 
Specht, Brigadier General, 

134. 
Split Rock, 4, 5, 11, 129, 252. 
English defeat the Ameri- 
cans at, 130. 
Springer, Lieut., 246. 
Sproul, Capt., 212, 221. 

35 



Sproul, Captain, advances to 
Chazj^ village and en- 
trenches himself, 216. 
Squires, Odle, 91. 
Stadacona, 14, 15. 
Stafford, Mr., 249, 250. 
Standish, Lieut. M. M., 2i9. 
Stansbury, Lieut. John, 233, 

234, 240, 245, 248. 
Stanton, John, 162. 
Stark, Gen. John (formerly 
Colonel and Captain), 
defeats Col. Baum ai 
Bennington, 151. 
journeys to Boston in 

his shirt sleeves, 99. 
repulses French and 
Indians at Fort Wil- 
liam Henry, 69. 
short biography of, 68, 
69. 
Molly, 69. 
Starke, Lieut., 124. 
Stave Island, 154. 
Stephenson, John, 170. 

Jonathan, 170. 
Stillwater, 140, 161. 

battle of, 151. 
Stone, Philip, 91. 

Roby G., 242, 243. 
Thomas, 163. 
Storrs, Lieut. Col., 216. 
Stowe, Jeremiah, house and 

farm pillaged, 193. 
Strong, Maj. Gen. John, 91, 

237, 240. 
SuUivan, Gen., 8, 93, 114, 115. 
takes command of the 
American amiy, 114. 
Sumpter, Lieut., 236. 
Swanton, Vt., 83. 

English burn barracks 
and plunder citizens 
at, 193. 
Falls, 90. 
Swartout, Jacobus S., 163. 



TADOUSSAC, 15. 
Talon, M., 30. 
Tappan, Peter, 163. 
Thacher, Capt., 123. 



fT4 



Y-r.-.-n-.-r ,"|.-.<,r 



Tiin: 



Tkr- 
Tico: 



1?». 






?^ ?r 



:4f. 



eonditiaii of tht A-mprir^H-n 

138. 

Off Itt GeiL Si. 



gainst, Id. 
xlifc rrpmnh. 



c: 



lineoln'*; expedition 
T ;! tfjr Gen. 



'. 208. 

Trac^, M."de! 2S." 24, 27. 28. 30, 
' 31. 
TjnroB a Molia-wk TiQage, 

SI. 
cnrjectf li larire armj at 
If^ie hi Mcmt. 2J*. 
TTa^--- ■ -ne]of.48. 
Ttb- ■ de. kmed "br 

TraTit. MeiaBcton T^.. 222. 
TTead"vreIL. 3vdige ThoinaE. 
KUi. 164.167. 
iioBf^e and farm pHla^ed, 
193. 



TmniliuL, »^/Oi. JoLn, llS, 115. 
13S. 
Got.. 132. 
Try on. Got.. 12. 95. 
Tubbs. Stmean, 158. 
Tmi&. 2-3. 
Tnscaroras. 5S. 

dnren from tie sonth "tnr 
the Enrlish: admitted lb 
ibf ConfederacT, 16. 
Tmtie.J.'W. 241. 
T^wiss. Ijem.. 140. 
Tyler. Joseph. 102. 



UZsTTED STATES, diffi- 
culties "witii Great Biitan, 
175. 
pr' — — uT atrainst 
-ai. 1^. 

Tpper ^3. 

Utrecia, xreanr oi, ■^, o<. 



\ 



^ALOOn? TSLAXD. €. 89, 

- ";■• """ ?'i7, 254 



T: 



uie shel- 



jxi:-^ . cattle of 128. 
T^ifitir l r." ihTid, 6. See Tdkour 

Island. 
Tallereimes. M. de. ensages 
Mai. SclixiTler in "batJle, 
43.' 
Tallme. Mr.. 234 
Tan Eeneselaer. Stephen, 171. 
Tarick. Eichard, 176. 
Tandreinl. M de. 56, 6a. 

sendf forces to oppose the 
adrance of INiciiolson's 
armr, 46. 47. 
Btrenrthens defenses at 
Quebec and returns to 
the defense ofMontreal, 
47. 48. 
stirrenders Montreal to 
the T.TicrTiKb 90. 
Tamghan. Capt., 224 



INDEX. 



275 



Vergennes, 4, 91, 207. 
Vermont, 7, 8, 9, 10, 45, 49, 56, 
101. 
admitted into the Union, 

157. 
patriotism of its ioliabit- 
ants, 238. 
Victorj% Mr., 91. 
■Vinson, Maj., 216. 



WAIT, Maj., 150. 
Roswell, 224. 
Waite, Capt. C. A., 243. 
Walker, Benjamin, 163. 

Sir Hovedon, convoys na- 
yal expedition against 
Quebec, 47. 
Walworth, Chancellor, 236. 

Hiram, 222. 
Warner, Capt., 128. 

Col. Seth, 97, 101, 102, 103, 

149. 
repulses Carleton at Lon- 

gueuil, 111. 
sent affainst Crown Point, 
104. 
Warren county, 238. 
Washington, 2\1. 
county, 238. 
Gen., 145. 
Waterbury, Brig. Gen., 123, 

253, 254. 
Waterford, 22. 
Watson, James, 176. 
Wayne, Col., 118. 138. 
Webb, Derrick (Derick), 159, 
164. 
Gen., 72, 83. 
commands the provin- 
cial troops at Fort Ed- 
ward; sends Col.Mon- 
ro to reinforce and 
take command of the 
garrison at Lake 
George, 70. 
refuses to send assistance 
to Fort WiUiam Hen- 
ry, 71. 
Weed, R. A., 241. 
Wellington, 237. 
Welsh, 58. 



West, Lieut. John, 239. 
severely wounded, 220. 
Moriah range, 11. 
Pomt, 113, 174. 
Westchester county, 165. 
Western Iroquois, 31, 32. 
Westport, 4, 10. 
Westropp, Capt. L., 239. 

severely wounded, 220. 
White Face (Mt.), 11, 12. 
White House, used as a British 

mihtarvpost, 8. 
Whitehall,'l, 2,3, 40. 
Whitney, Lieut. Col.. 47, 64. 
Wifffflesworth, Col., 126, 129. 
WiKbx, James, 103. 
Wilkinson, Maj. Gen. James, 
201, 202, 203,206, 207, 
208. 
assumes command of the 
northern department, 
194. 
sends forces to the fron- 
tier, 198. 
Williams, Flavins, 222. 

Lieut. Col. Ephraim, 65, 
66, 203. 
makes his will ; is de- 
feated and slain at 
Lake George, 64. 
College, 64 
Williamstown, 64. 
Willmgton,Capt. James, killed, 
239. 
Lt. Col., 220," 243, 244, 248. 
Willsboroueh, 159, 170, 171, 

252. " 
Windmill Point, 9, 56, 121, 
122, 172. 
abandoned by the French, 
8. 
Winooski Eiver, 2, 7, 45, 53, 
104, 181. 
falls of, 98, 158. 
settlement at lower falls 
of, 92. 
Winthrop, Maj. Gen. John, 
takes command of an ex- 
pedition against Canada; 
proceeds as far as Wood 
Creek : returns and dis- 
bands his army, 39. 



276 



INDEX. 



"Witherspoon, Rev. Mr., 243, 

346. 
Wolfe, Gen., 113. 

takes command of an ex- 
pedition against Que- 
bec, 83. 
Wolfe's cove, 113. 
Wood Creek, 2,3, 4, 33, 39, 
43, 49, 63, 80, 94, 143, 
147. 
forts built by the New 
York colonists on, 46. 
Indians supposed to 
have poisoned, 47. 
Enos, 158. 
Ira A., 222. 
Woodbridge, Col., 149. 
Wool, Brig. Gen., 243, 343, 
244, '346. 
Maj., 331. 



Wool, Maj., skirmishes with 

the English, 220. 
Woolcut, Elijah, 159. 
Woolse,y, Lieut. Melancton T., 
170, 179. 

Melancton L., 164, 169, 
170. 
Wooster, 101. 

Wright, Brig. Gen., 235, 287. 
Wyandots, 51. 
Wynkoop, Capt., 121. 



YATES, Robert, 168. 
Young, Maj., 185. 
surprises a party of Bri- 
tish at St. Regis, 185. 
St. George, 157. 
Yroquois, 12. See Iroquois. 



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